We train real astronauts, taking them to the depths of the Earth to prepare them for space.
CAVES is an astronaut training programme, designed and organised by the European Space Agency (ESA), which has been running since 2011. The acronym CAVES stands for Cooperative Adventure for Valuing and Exercising human behaviour and performance Skills. Since 2017 Miles Beyond has provided logistical and scientific support for all editions of this fascinating training programme.
During the six editions of CAVES, from 2011 to 2019, 34 astronauts from 6 different space agencies (ESA, NASA, JAXA, ROSCOSMOS, CSA and CNSA) have been trained.
CAVES has been recognised by all astronauts and, in particular those who have flown in space, as one of the best ‘space analogue’ trainings available on Earth.
CAVES is a training in the framework of one of the most relevant ‘space analogue’ environments, the Earth’s underground world. Cave exploration has several analogies with spaceflight, from environmental and psychological stress to team dynamics, from safety procedures to isolation in confined environment, including loss of time perception and complex scientific-technological research.
CAVES consists of a technical, scientific and operational training phase and a six-day cave expedition during which the astronauts are required to explore, document, conduct scientific research, manage base camp, supplies, waste and communications with the external base.
During the CAVES course, the Miles Beyond team takes care of the logistics, manages the scientific part of the training, and takes care of all the technical and caving aspects with the support of a team of specialists, technicians and scientists in the field of caving exploration.
Over the years, there has been much positive feedback from the space agencies involved and from the astronauts themselves, who have stated: “Our group agrees that CAVES is one of the best, probably the best, spaceflight analogue training we have received”.
Photo credits ESA
