Johnson Space Center is where astronauts from the U.S. and around the world are trained for life in space.
Photo Credit: NASA
The Sonny Carter Training Facility is home to the world’s largest indoor pool: the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL).
Photo Credit: NASA
The NBL holds 6.2 million gallons of water and is more than 200 feet long and 40 feet deep. It’s used to simulate the weightlessness of space.
Photo Credit: NASA
Astronauts train underwater in the NBL using full-sized replicas of space station modules. They practise spacewalks in the pool.
Photo Credit: NASA
Training underwater is the closest way to experience weightlessness on Earth. Astronauts wear full spacesuits to practise spacewalk techniques.
Photo Credit: NASA
Support divers are always there to help astronauts with their training. In space, astronauts are helped by mission control and their team on the Space Station.