Since lunar gravity is only one sixth that of Earth, astronauts use specially weighted spacesuits in one of the deepest “swimming pools” in Europe.
This “moondive” study took place over the course of three years at ESA’s 10 meter deep Neutral Buoyancy Facility at the European Astronaut Centre near Cologne in Germany. But before astronauts could walk on the moon’s lower-gravity atmosphere, NASA needed to figure out how to land them there. For this task, NASA and Bell Aerosystems designed the Lunar Landing Research Vehicle, and later the Lunar Landing Training Vehicle that the Apollo 11 crew used to practice at the Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston, Texas.
NASA inaugurated its 23rd class of new astronauts on Monday, which includes 10 individuals who are set to walk on the moon and maybe even Mars. NASA’s last astronaut class was inducted in 2017. Two of its members, Raja Chari and Kayla Barron, are currently in space aboard the International Space Station.
Video Credit: COMEX, ESA