. Military Space News .
SPACEMART
Test your astronaut skills and help ESA
by Staff Writers
Paris (ESA) Jan 18, 2016


Andre Kuipers captured his Russian crewmates performing a spacewalk outside the International Space Station. For safety reasons, he stayed inside his Soyuz TMA-03M spacecraft for the duration of the spacewalk, which afforded him some excellent views of the cosmonauts in action. Andre spent six months in the orbital outpost for ESA's long-duration mission, PromISSe. He was launched with his fellow crewmembers Don Petitt and Oleg Kononenko, from Baikonur, Kazakhstan, December 2012. Image courtesy ESA/NASA. For a larger version of this image please go here.

With ESA astronaut Tim Peake stepping out of the International Space Station tomorrow, have you ever wanted to know if you have what it takes to be an astronaut? ESA is offering a trial version of a test developed for future astronauts for you to try at home - and by taking part you will help us select a new generation of astronauts.

Trainers at ESA's European Astronaut Centre in Cologne, Germany are always looking for ways to improve their methods. Part of the job is to find out who is suitable to become an astronaut in the first place.

One of the many challenges faced by astronauts is working in three-dimensional space. In a weightless universe, up can become down and left can become right depending on which way you are floating.

Everybody knows the feeling of disorientation on visiting a new city, and working in space adds a whole new dimension - literally. During a spacewalk this effect intensifies as the blackness of space offers little for astronauts' brains to use for orientation. Working and using objects in this environment is something astronauts must excel at and so is a key aptitude that trainers look for in selecting candidates.

Start the test
The head of ESA's astronaut centre, Frank De Winne, says: "ESA is not currently running a selection campaign but developing tests for astronaut selection takes time and needs to be done right."

Your task is to move and turn an object to fit exactly in a new position in three dimensions. The task is made harder because all your moves need to be programmed beforehand and the goal is to use as few as possible.

European Astronaut Centre experts in robotics and spacecraft docking worked with psychologists to design the test.

ESA's Head of Astronaut Training, Rudiger Seine, explains: "By 'playing' with the test online you will help the team validate it, essentially making sure it works. For us, the more people who participate, the better."

Click here to go to the test website and start thinking like an astronaut as you work your way through progressively harder levels.


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The Space Media Network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceMediaNetwork Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceMediaNetwork Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


.


Related Links
Human Spaceflight at ESA
The latest information about the Commercial Satellite Industry






Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

Previous Report
SPACEMART
Lights on for LISA Pathfinder
Paris (ESA) Jan 14, 2016
While LISA Pathfinder is en route to its operational orbit, the science and engineering teams are testing the systems on the spacecraft. This week, they will begin to switch on elements of the science payload, including the laser that will be used to monitor the most precise free-fall motion ever obtained in space. Launched on 3 December 2015, LISA Pathfinder has used its propulsion module ... read more


SPACEMART
South Korea, Japan Should Host US THAAD Missiles: Cohen

Aegis Combat System upgrade gets Navy approval

Serbia requests missile defense systems from Russia

Cavalier AFS significant link to missile warning/space defense

SPACEMART
Latest N. Korea sub missile test a 'catastrophic failure': analysts

France signs Aster missile upgrade contract

NATO orders Saab RBS 70 Bolide missiles

Raytheon tests new seeker for Tomahawk cruise missiles

SPACEMART
Germany to lease Israeli Heron TP UAVs

Germany to buy Israeli drones which can be weaponised: minister

Ground broken on Gray Eagle UAS training facility

KVH Introduces FOG-based Inertial Navigation Systems for UAV Applications

SPACEMART
General Dynamics MUOS-Manpack radio supports government testing of MUOS network

Raytheon to produce, test Navy Multiband Terminals

ADS to build one of two satellites for future COMSAT NG system

Thales and Airbus to supply French military satellite communications

SPACEMART
Sotera to perform Information Operations Support for U.S. Army

Saab unveils Sea Giraffe 4A AESA naval radar

Indian Army likely to get K9 Vajra-T howitzers

Saab to provide more equipment for U.S. Army combat vehicles

SPACEMART
Kuwait MPs approve extra $10 bn for arms

Sweden shuts defense export agency

Growth tipped for world's defense, aerospace sectors

Germany rethinking arms sales to Saudi Arabia

SPACEMART
Philippines welcomes more US forces to counter China

Hanoi slams 'erroneous statements' on China island flights

Philippines seeks joint patrols with US in South China Sea

Philippines to offer eight bases to US forces: official

SPACEMART
Nano-hybrid materials create magnetic effect

Annihilating nanoscale defects

Mechanical properties of nanomaterials are altered due to electric field

Electronically connected graphene nanoribbons foresee high-speed electronics









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.