European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Pesquet wraps up rehearsals and training in his dive helmet off the coast of Key Largo. Pesquet, like two of his NEEMO 18 crewmates, selected as an astronaut candidate in May 2009 and having successfully completed his basic training in November 2010, will be joined by the two NASA classmates and veteran astronaut Aki Hoshide (NEEMO 18 commander) of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) beginning July 21. Pesquet will be an aquanaut-turned-astronaut on a future International Space Station crew, and this underwater mission will help better prepare him for that role.
NASA
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