Tech goes underground before flying into outer space
As unusual as it might sound, one of the best places for astronauts to test space tech is way underground. And ESA’s Luca Parmitano did just that in the caverns under Sicily.
ESA says it has been testing equipment, techniques and working methods for missions with astronauts in inner space for many years, as delving inside Earth and exploring caves often parallels the exploration of outer space, from a lack of sunlight to working in cramped spaces and relying on equipment for safety.
The latest example is an expedition which saw ESA’s astronaut Luca Parmitano join a team of scientists in the La Cucchiara caves near Sciacca, Sicily. The team arrived on 19 May and spent two days exploring the area, which includes a 100 m-deep abyss. As this cave reaches 37°C, the explorers also tried out cooling vests – another similarity to astronauts in spacesuits.
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Astronaut Luca Parmitano also used a Flyability drone that deliberately bumped into walls to learn how to navigate and to map tight areas that are too dangerous for humans.
“The drone used its thermal camera to map how the cave continued all the way to an unexplored area featuring water, impossible to reach for humans. These tests will help us understand which technologies can be used in future exploration of lava tubes on Mars, for example,” ESA’s course coordinator, Francesco Sauro, an experienced caver and field geologist, said.
ESA’s strategy sees humans and robots working together to explore and build settlements on planetary bodies, as well as improving our understanding of our origins, and the origins of life in our Solar System.
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