Astronaut Takuya Onishi, assigned as a crew member for the Expedition 48/49 mission to the International Space Station (ISS), underwent training for overall ISS operations at NASA’s Johnson Space Center (JSC).
ഀDuring the training for Extravehicular Activity (EVA), Onishi simulated maintenance operations for exposed equipment installed on the exterior of the ISS in the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL), which is a large pool containing a submerged full-scale ISS mockup.
ഀAlongside Astronaut Robert Kimbrough of NASA, Onishi donned a submersible Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU), dived into the NBL pool, and then practiced maintenance operations for the Space Station Remote Manipulator System (SSRMS) and the Solar Alpha Rotary Joint (SARJ). During the training, a case was simulated where Onishi's EVA partner became incapacitated. Onishi then took the partner back inside.
ഀOther EVA training covered EMU system proficiency training, EMU parts exchange procedures, and connecting and disconnecting the Quick Disconnect (QD), a connector of outboard fluid pipe.
ഀFor medical training, Onishi practiced drawing blood. Such training is necessary as onboard astronauts draw their own blood. For training regarding an eye experiment called Ocular Health, Onishi checked the procedure for ultrascanning his eyes. This research is conducted because some astronauts staying aboard the ISS for a long time have experienced changes in their eyesight.
ഀOther training included the procedure for testing water quality that is regularly conducted on the ISS.
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