3rd International Planetary Caves 2020 (LPI Contrib. No. 2197) 1056.pdf THE ESA CAVES ASTRONAUT TRAINING PROGRAM: SPELEOLOGICAL EXPLORATION AS AN ANALOGUE FOR SPACE L. Bessone1, J. De Waele2 , F. Sauro2, 1Directorate of Human and Robotics Explora- tion, European Space Agency, [email protected], 2Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Italian Institute of Speleology, Bologna University, Italy, [email protected], [email protected] Introduction: Space agencies are concerned with factors with a very high potential impact on the mis- training of their astronauts for long duration missions, sion success. From a psychological and psychosocial not only for current and future orbital missions but also point of view, much of the spaceflight stressors are for future human and robotic planetary surface explo- present in cave exploration. When inside a cave, days ration. Preparing for expeditions to other planets re- of progression far from the entrance, the isolation is quires a realistic replication of environmental and situ- complete. Cave environments are obviously confined, ational characteristics of the extreme conditions of but mainly mobility is constrained, for safety reasons, space in earth analogue platforms, where stressors sim- to specific paths along walls, like in EVA. Communi- ilar to those encountered in long duration spaceflight cation with the surface is extremely limited and relies are provided (Morphew, 2011). The environments in only on technologies that are not trustworthy. This which such training events are carried out must have sense of isolation is directly correlated with the dis- realistic perceived risk and must enable the execution tance (in time) from the entrance, given the awareness of complex technical tasks, as well as requiring group that every hour of progression would most probably living in isolated and/or confined settings. This re- require one full day for a rescue team to get back to the quires the identification of suitable terrestrial analogue surface an injured or incapacitated person. Some stress environments and the design of high-fidelity training elements are directly related to the rough nature of the courses / mission scenarios with representative opera- cave environment and to the difficulty of creating com- tional set-up. fortable habitability settings at the base camp. That is Since 2008 the European Space Agency has started translated in lack of privacy, uncomfortable sleeping, investigating the use of scientific expeditions into limited hygiene, exposure to cold and humidity, dust caves as a novel platform for astronaut training, taking and mud, etc. All these stressors, if not managed, in the advantage of the natural analogies of the cave envi- long term induce irritation, social conflicts within the ronment and associated technical operations with team, altered decision-making or even physiological space missions. In 2011 a new ESA training pro- discomfort and health issues. Different cultural ap- gramme named CAVES (Cooperative Adventure for proaches to leadership, information sharing, decision Valuing and Exercising human behaviour and perfor- making and teamwork are employed during current mance Skills) was launched, with the specific goal to ISS missions, all while respecting established hierar- prepare astronauts for long duration space missions. chies, rules and procedures. Whilst not all cave expedi- tions have a structured approach to team processes, the Environmental and expeditionary analogies: CAVES programme builds upon the situational analo- The cave environment naturally shares several of the gies, while imposing a structured approach to the de- stressors that are usually found in human spaceflights velopment of the team, while maintaining flexibility, [1]. From a physiological point of view the absence of strongly emphasising team growth via thorough analy- natural zeitgebers can cause alteration of the circadian sis of its own activities and decisions. rhythms [2] and the related physiological stress can be avoided only through earth-like work/rest schedules, CAVES concept and training structure: Caves similar to those developed for the ISS. In the dark en- are hostile and dangerous environments that shall be vironment of a cave there is a decrease in sunlight ex- dealt with clear operational safety rules, requiring the posure requiring consequent adaptation to artificial mastering of technical progression skills. The envi- light, similar to conditions on the ISS, due to confine- ronment is however just a “container”: analogies ment and the sixteen day/night cycle/day, and for fu- should be based on similarities in experiences, not just ture interplanetary travel, due to external lighting con- in environment [3]. During CAVES astronauts are ditions, as well as the need to live in artificial habitats. trained in the use of single rope ascension tools and The three-dimensionality of cave progression, the lack techniques, to negotiate obstacles and long traverses of common references, the use of headlights and the rigged with iron cables. This technical training resem- associated presence of shadows and badly illuminat- bles skills and safety protocols required to move and ed/visible or inaccessible/keep-out zones increase the operate in extravehicular activity, with reduced field of hostilility of the environment, similarly to what is ex- view, shadows, tri-dimensional progression through perienced during Extravehicular Activities (EVA). viable paths, confused perception of obstacles and dis- Behavioural issues for isolated, confined teams in tances, keep-out and no-touch zones. future planetary missions are one of the least known 3rd International Planetary Caves 2020 (LPI Contrib. No. 2197) 1056.pdf This preparatory training is propedeutical to an extend- evaluation of two wireless cave radio systems, called ed caves exploration phase, where the astronauts au- TEDRA and XFERRA. Both of them have provided tonomously perform a scientific expedition as a multi- interesting results, allowing to the crew the set up of an cultural and multidisciplinary team. Astronauts are advanced camp, ensuring the communication with the trained to use a buddy system and to maintain team ground team, required for safety reasons. Also, colli- situational awareness through briefings and debriefings sion resistant drones specifically developed for in- in order to maintain control on the safety of the whole specting confined and dangerous environments have group, to allow informed decision making for each been tested. The tests are used to improve the instru- member of the team, and to enable team learning ments and their user procedures for the next editions, through analysis of failures and successes. Analogue but also these systems could provide a base from team training needs to be based on the concept of op- which to develop reliable communication systems erations [4], and provide real challenges, stressors and from lunar lava tube missions in the future. Other a credible programme. During the CAVES mission, technologies tested are those related to survey and astronauts will explore new branches of the cave, and documentation, like new laser measurement tools are required to survey all newly explored areas, as well (Cavesniper, Megaplot SJ). as provide photographic documentation of all activities performed. Conclusions: The environment scientific, operational and situational realism, as well as the real, albeit con- Scientific and technological program: As for space trolled risk of makes this it a highly credible and valu- missions, in CAVES astronauts carry out a compre- able training venue. Astronauts are directly involved in hensive scientific program, according to a flexible op- one of the open human frontiers of exploration on erational timeline and space-like procedures. The sci- Earth: the underground. Despite various important entific tasks the astronauts are asked to carry out are differences with space stations, that host current space numerous: microbiological sampling of air, water, and missions, caves are complex alien environments, offer- solid material, monitoring of cave air temperature, ing several of the same situations and associated space- relative humidity, CO2 concentration, and wind speed flight stressors and team processes, as well as science and direction, sampling of waters and minerals for opportunities, making this training platform a valuable follow-up laboratory analyses, and monitoring (and, in tool to enforce team processes and skills, as well as some cases, sampling) of cave dwelling fauna (mainly offering complex scientific and technological opera- troglobites). During the pre-expedition training, crew- tions in an unusual and risk controlled environment. members test the different experiment procedures and Differently to other analogues, communication in- methodologies assisted by scientists, in order also to side a cave is rather unreliable, forcing the develop- achieve a good understanding of the relevance of ob- ment of very autonomous mission operations, with servation and sample collection or data analysis acqui- reduced reliance on control and directions from ground sition methodology to the achievement of good scien- teams. This offers a rather interesting testbed for future tific objectives. planetary exploration scenarios, which will include The scientific programme not only offers a set of delayed communication and higher level of autonomy. realistic tasks and objectives, but it also provides really