Ich habe gerade meinen ersten Tauchgang im EVA-Anzug im Neutral Buoyancy Lab der NASA absolviert – absolut begeistert und erschöpft! Details in den Kommentaren

Hello r/space!

I’m Raphaël, an ESA astronaut candidate currently training in Houston. I recently completed my first EVA suit dive at NASA’s Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL), and I wanted to share the experience with you!

I was selected by ESA in November 2022 and have been training at the Johnson Space Center since April 2023, preparing for my first mission to the ISS in 2026. Originally from Belgium, I have a background in biomedical engineering and neuroscience.

The NBL is a massive underwater facility where we simulate the weightlessness of space to practice spacewalks. During this first dive, I got hands-on with the EVA suit and the various tools we use for extra-vehicular activities, such as tethers, foot restraints and screwdrivers.

What surprised me was the physical intensity required for even simple tasks during the dive, like moving along the modules. I’ll definitely need more gym time to handle the upcoming dives, which will last up to seven hours.

I’ve attached some pictures from the dive. Feel free to ask any questions about the training, the technology we use, or the path to becoming an astronaut — I’m happy to share what I’ve learned and give you a glimpse into the final stages of astronaut training before liftoff.

Looking forward to the conversation!

Raphaël Liégeois

Nice, that’s pretty cool. What was the most surprising part of it? Also what was the coolest part of it?

Are the suits used in water training modified significantly than what you would use in vacuum?

Impressive! You’re living the dream! 😀 Make the most of it! 😀