
Canadian Forces Snowbirds fly in formation over NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida during a practice flight on May 9, 2018, between their scheduled U.S. air shows.

Canadian Forces Snowbirds fly in formation over NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida during a practice flight on May 9, 2018, between their scheduled U.S. air shows.

Two Canadian Forces Snowbirds perform an aerial maneuver over NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida during a practice flight on May 9, 2018, between their scheduled U.S. air shows.

Canadian Forces Snowbirds perform an aerial acrobatic maneuver over NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida during a practice flight on May 9, 2018, between their scheduled U.S. air shows.

Canadian Forces Snowbirds fly in formation over NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida during a practice flight on May 9, 2018, between their scheduled U.S. air shows.

Canadian Forces Snowbirds fly in formation over NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida during a practice flight on May 9, 2018, between their scheduled U.S. air shows.

Workers watch as the Canadian Forces Snowbirds fly in formation over the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, during a practice flight on May 9, 2018, between their scheduled U.S. air shows.

Canadian Forces Snowbirds perform an aerial acrobatic maneuver over NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida during a practice flight on May 9, 2018, between their scheduled U.S. air shows.

Canadian Forces Snowbirds fly in formation over NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida during a practice flight on May 9, 2018, between their scheduled U.S. air shows.

Workers along the NASA Causeway at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida watch a practice flight of the Canadian Forces Snowbirds on May 9, 2018, between their scheduled U.S. air shows.

Canadian Forces Snowbirds fly in formation over NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida during a practice flight on May 9, 2018, between their scheduled U.S. air shows.

Two Canadian Forces Snowbirds perform a close flyby maneuver over NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida during a practice flight on May 9, 2018, between their scheduled U.S. air shows.

Canadian Forces Snowbirds perform an aerial maneuver over NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida during a practice flight on May 9, 2018, between their scheduled U.S. air shows.

Canadian Forces Snowbirds fly in formation over NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida during a practice flight on May 9, 2018, between their scheduled U.S. air shows.

Canadian Forces Snowbirds perform a loop maneuver over Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida during a practice flight between their scheduled U.S. air shows on May 9, 2018.

Canadian Forces Snowbirds fly in formation over NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida during a practice flight on May 9, 2018, between their scheduled U.S. air shows.

Canadian Forces Snowbirds perform an aerial acrobatic maneuver over NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida during a practice flight on May 9, 2018, between their scheduled U.S. air shows.

Canadian Forces Snowbirds fly in formation over NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida during a practice flight on May 9, 2018, between their scheduled U.S. air shows.

Two Canadian Forces Snowbirds perform a close flyby maneuver over NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida during a practice flight on May 9, 2018, between their scheduled U.S. air shows.

Workers along the NASA Causeway at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida watch a practice flight of the Canadian Forces Snowbirds on May 9, 2018, between their scheduled U.S. air shows.

Canadian Forces Snowbirds fly in formation over NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida during a practice flight on May 9, 2018, between their scheduled U.S. air shows.

Canadian Forces Snowbirds fly in formation over NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida during a practice flight on May 9, 2018, between their scheduled U.S. air shows.

Canadian Forces Snowbirds fly in formation over NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida during a practice flight on May 9, 2018, between their scheduled U.S. air shows.

iss073e0221786 (June 20, 2025) --- From front to back, Expedition 73 Flight Engineers Jonny Kim of NASA and Alexey Zubritsky and Sergey Ryzhikov, both from Roscosmos, practice an emergency drill on computer tablets inside the International Space Station's Zvezda service module.

Capt. Blake McNaughton, team coordinator, Advance and Safety Pilot, 431 (Air Demonstration) Squadron Snowbirds Department of National Defence, communicates with the Canadian Forces Snowbird pilots from the NASA Causeway at Kennedy Space Center in Florida during a practice flight on May 9, 2018, between their scheduled U.S. Air Shows.

Canadian Forces Snowbirds fly in formation over NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida during a practice flight on May 9, 2018, between their scheduled U.S. air shows. The iconic Vehicle Assembly Building and mobile launcher are in view in the background.

NASA's 2017 astronaut candidate Kayla Barron practices flying in an X-59 QueSST simulator at Armstrong Flight Research Center, in Southern California. The low boom flight demonstrator, X-59, being built at Lockheed Martin and was designed to fly at supersonic speeds over land without the loud noise of breaking the sound barrier and disturbing communities.

NASA’s 2017 astronaut candidates (L to R) Jonny Kim and Raja Chari practice flying in an X-59 QueSST simulator at Armstrong Flight Research Center, in Southern California. The low boom flight demonstrator, X-59, being built at Lockheed Martin and was designed to supersonically over land without the loud noise of breaking the sound barrier and disturbing communities.

NASA's 2017 astronaut candidates (L to R) Jessica Watkins and Jenni Sidey-Gibbons practice flying in an F-18 aircraft cockpit simulator at Armstrong Flight Research Center, in Southern California. The F-18's are flown for research support and pilot proficiency. Currently, the F-18's are being used to conduct supersonic research in support of the X-59 QueSST overall mission.

NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center test pilots Jim "Clue" Less (front) and Wayne "Ringo" Ringelberg (back) taxi out in a NASA F/A-18 at Ellington Field in Houston, Texas, in preparation of a training flight for the Quiet Supersonic Flights 2018 series, or QSF18. The QSF18 flights will provide NASA with feedback necessary to validate community response techniques for future quiet supersonic research flights for the X-59 Quiet SuperSonic Technology, or QueSST.

NASA's 2017 astronaut candidates (L to R) Zena Cardman, Loral O'Hara, Frank Rubio, Jonny Kim, Raja Chari practice flying in an X-59 QueSST simulator at Armstrong Flight Research Center, in Southern California. The low boom flight demonstrator, X-59, being built at Lockheed Martin and was designed to fly at supersonic speeds over land without the loud noise of breaking the sound barrier and disturbing communities.

NASA's 2017 astronaut candidates toured aircraft hangar at Armstrong Flight Research Center, in Southern California. After tour of aircraft hangar and briefing on the use of aircraft for flight research, the astronauts practiced flying the X-57 simulator. Starting with the fuselage of a Tecnam P20067T, the X-57 Maxwell electric propulsion airplane is being built and could lead to the development of electric propulsion-powered aircraft, which would be quieter, more efficient and environmentally friendly than today's commuter aircraft.

NASA's 2017 astronaut candidates (L to R) Bob Hines, Matthew Dominick and Jasmin Moghbeli practice flying in X-57 aircraft simulator at Armstrong Flight Research Center in Southern California. Starting with the fuselage of a Tecnam P20067T, the X-57 Maxwell electric propulsion airplane is being built from ideas being researched that could lead to the development of electric propulsion-powered aircraft, which would be quieter, more efficient and environmentally friendly than today's commuter aircraft.

NASA’s 2017 astronaut candidates (L to R) Jessica Watkins, Jenni Sidey-Gibbons, Joshua Kutryk, and Jasmin Moghbeli practice flying in an F-18 aircraft cockpit simulator at Armstrong Flight Research Center, in Southern California. The F-18’s are flown for research support and pilot proficiency. Currently, the F-18’s are being used to conduct supersonic research in support of the X-59 QueSST overall mission.

NASA's 2017 astronaut candidates (L to R) Jenni Sidey-Gibbons, Jessica Watkins and Joshua Kutryk practice flying in an F-18 aircraft cockpit simulator at Armstrong Flight Research Center, in Southern California. The F-18's are flown for research support and pilot proficiency. Currently, the F-18 is conducting supersonic research in support of the X-59 QueSST overall mission.

NASA's 2017 astronaut candidate Matthew Dominick practices flying in the X-57 aircraft simulator at Armstrong Flight Research Center in Southern California. Starting with the fuselage of a Tecnam P20067T, the X-57 Maxwell electric propulsion airplane is being built from ideas being researched that could lead to the development of electric propulsion-powered aircraft, which would be quieter, more efficient and environmentally friendly than today's commuter aircraft.

These photos and videos show NASA astronauts Bob Hines and Raja Chari practicing landing procedures in the Rocky Mounts of Colorado in April 2025. The astronauts were participating in a NASA-specific course at the HAATS (High-Altitude Army National Guard Aviation Training Site) in Gypsum, Colorado. NASA and the Colorado Army National Guard are using military helicopters to develop a foundational lunar lander simulated flight training course to help astronauts practice flight and landing procedures for the Moon. For more information, contact NASA Marshall’s Office of Communications at 256-544-0034.

These photos and videos show NASA astronauts Bob Hines and Raja Chari practicing landing procedures in the Rocky Mounts of Colorado in April 2025. The astronauts were participating in a NASA-specific course at the HAATS (High-Altitude Army National Guard Aviation Training Site) in Gypsum, Colorado. NASA and the Colorado Army National Guard are using military helicopters to develop a foundational lunar lander simulated flight training course to help astronauts practice flight and landing procedures for the Moon. For more information, contact NASA Marshall’s Office of Communications at 256-544-0034.

These photos and videos show NASA astronauts Bob Hines and Raja Chari practicing landing procedures in the Rocky Mounts of Colorado in April 2025. The astronauts were participating in a NASA-specific course at the HAATS (High-Altitude Army National Guard Aviation Training Site) in Gypsum, Colorado. NASA and the Colorado Army National Guard are using military helicopters to develop a foundational lunar lander simulated flight training course to help astronauts practice flight and landing procedures for the Moon. For more information, contact NASA Marshall’s Office of Communications at 256-544-0034.

jsc2024e052325 (July 22, 2024) --- NASA’s SpaceX Crew-9 Mission Specialist Aleksandr Gorbunov gives a thumbs-up while wearing his flight suit during a successful crew equipment interface test (CEIT), of which the crew practiced donning their flight suits, performed a suited ingress into the spacecraft, conducted suit leak checks, and completed communication checkouts. Credit: SpaceX

The Orion boilerplate test article inside the well deck of the USS Anchorage during recovery practice operations on Aug. 4, 2014. NASA and U.S. Navy practiced recovery techniques off the coast of California, in preparation for Exploration Flight Test-1 (EFT-1). Part of Batch image transfer from Flickr.

The Orion boilerplate test article inside the well deck of the USS Anchorage during recovery practice operations Aug. 4, 2014. NASA and U.S. Navy practiced recovery techniques off the coast of California, in preparation for Exploration Flight Test-1 (EFT-1). Part of Batch image transfer from Flickr.

CID (Controlled Imact Demonstrator) Aircraft in practice flight above target impact site with wing cutters.

The C-17 simulator at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California. Simulators offer a safe and economical alternative to actual flights to gather data, as well as being excellent facilities for pilot practice and training.

NASA Conducts Airborne Science Aboard Zeppelin Airship: equipped with two imaging instruments enabling remote sensing and atmospheric science measurements not previously practical. Pre-flight checkout of airship flight systems and instruments.

Prior to its launch in April 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) went through years of development and testing. The HST was the first of its kind and the scientific community could only imagine the fruits of their collective labors. However, prior to its launch, more practical procedures, such as astronaut training, had to be developed. As the HST was to remain in orbit for years, it became apparent that on-orbit maintenance routines would have to be developed. The best facility to develop these maintenance practices was at the Neutral Buoyancy Simulator (NBS) at the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC). The NBS provided mock-ups of the HST (in sections), a Remote Manipulator System (RMS), and a shuttle's cargo bay pallet. This real life scenario provided scientists, engineers, and astronauts a practical environment to work out any problems with a plarned on-orbit maintenance mission. Pictured is an astronaut in training with a mock-up section of the HST, practicing using tools especially designed for the task being performed.

iss065e158152 (July 7, 2021) --- Roscosmos cosmonaut and Expedition 65 Flight Engineer Oleg Novitskiy practices an emergency Soyuz crew ship evacuation drill on a computer during inside the International Space Station's Zvezda service module.

iss071e160383 (June 3, 2024) --- Expedition 71 Flight Engineers Jeanette Epps and Mike Barratt, both NASA astronauts, practice installing safety components on a spacesuit inside the International Space Station's Unity moduile.

NASA and DoD members of the Artemis I recovery team run practice flight operations procedures aboard the USS Portland (LPD 27). The team is out at sea ahead of the Dec. 11 Orion splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.

iss051e020157 (April 21, 2017) --- Expedition 51 Flight Engineer Thomas Pesquet (foreground) and Commander Peggy Whitson use the robotics work station in the Destiny laboratory module to practice capturing a resupply ship with the Canadarm2 robotic arm.

NASA and DoD members of the Artemis I recovery team run practice flight operations procedures aboard the USS Portland (LPD 27). The team is out at sea ahead of the Dec. 11 Orion splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.

This photograph was taken in the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) Neutral Buoyancy Simulator (NBS) during the testing of the Japanese Experimental Module. The NBS provided the weightless environment encountered in space needed for testing and the practices of extra-vehicular activities.

NASA and DoD members of the Artemis I recovery team run practice flight operations procedures aboard the USS Portland (LPD 27). The team is out at sea ahead of the Dec. 11 Orion splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.

NASA and DoD members of the Artemis I recovery team run practice flight operations procedures aboard the USS Portland (LPD 27). The team is out at sea ahead of the Dec. 11 Orion splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.

NASA and DoD members of the Artemis I recovery team run practice flight operations procedures aboard the USS Portland (LPD 27). The team is out at sea ahead of the Dec. 11 Orion splashdown in the Pacific Ocean.

jsc2018e032531 (03-30-18) --- 2017 NASA astronaut candidate Warren Hoburg practices procedures alongside trainers during T-38 flight simulator training in Houston. Photo Credit: (NASA/James Blair)

NASA commercial crew astronaut Josh Cassada practices water survival techniques at the Neutral Bouyancy Laboratory. Cassada is assigned to the second crewed flight to the International Space Station of Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner.

iss059e021364 (Aprill 16, 2019) --- Expedition 59 Flight Engineer Anne McClain of NASA uses the robotics workstation inside the U.S. Destiny laboratory module to practice Canadarm2 robotics maneuvers and Cygnus spacecraft capture techniques.

iss067e147098 (June 21, 2022) --- ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut and Expedition 67 Flight Engineer Samantha Cristoforetti exercises and practices yoga maneuvers while attached to hand and foot rails inside the Kibo laboratory module.

iss065e158154 (July 7, 2021) --- Roscosmos cosmonaut and Expedition 65 Flight Engineer Pyotr Dubrov practices an emergency Soyuz crew ship evacuation drill on a computer during inside the International Space Station's Zvezda service module.

iss067e107123 (May 31, 2022) --- ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut and Expedition 67 Flight Engineer Samantha Cristoforetti practices robotics maneuvers on a laptop computer inside the International Space Station's Columbus laboratory module.

jsc2018e032520 (03-30-18) --- 2017 NASA astronaut candidate Kayla Barron practices procedures during T-38 flight simulator training in Houston. Photo Credit: (NASA/James Blair)

The NASA and US Navy recovery crews practice lifting the Orion boilerplate test article out of the water using a crane on the USS Anchorage on Aug. 3, 2014. NASA and U.S. Navy practiced recovery techniques off the coast of California, in preparation for Exploration Flight Test-1 (EFT-1). Part of Batch image transfer from Flickr.

Members of NASA and Department of Defense recovery team pose for a group photograph on the flight deck of USS Somerset after practicing Artemis recovery operations during Underway Recovery Test-12 off the coast of California, Saturday, March 29, 2025. During the test, NASA and Department of Defense teams are practicing to ensure recovery procedures are validated as NASA plans to send Artemis II around the Moon and splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Teams at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida practice the Artemis mission emergency escape or egress procedures during a series of integrated system verification and validation tests at Launch Complex 39B on Friday, Aug. 9, 2024. Simulated flight crew members practice getting out of the emergency egress basket and into the emergency transport vehicle to drive them to safety in the event of an unlikely emergency during launch countdown.

Teams at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida practice the Artemis mission emergency escape or egress procedures during a series of integrated system verification and validation tests at Launch Complex 39B on Friday, Aug. 9, 2024. Simulated flight crew members practice getting out of the emergency egress basket and into the emergency transport vehicle to drive them to safety in the event of an unlikely emergency during launch countdown.

Teams at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida practice the Artemis mission emergency escape or egress procedures during a series of integrated system verification and validation tests at Launch Complex 39B on Friday, Aug. 9, 2024. Simulated flight crew members practice getting out of the emergency egress basket and into the emergency transport vehicle to drive them to safety in the event of an unlikely emergency during launch countdown.

Teams at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida practice the Artemis mission emergency escape or egress procedures during a series of integrated system verification and validation tests at Launch Complex 39B on Friday, Aug. 9, 2024. Simulated flight crew members practice getting out of the emergency egress basket and into the emergency transport vehicle to drive them to safety in the event of an unlikely emergency during launch countdown.

Teams at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida practice the Artemis mission emergency escape or egress procedures during a series of integrated system verification and validation tests at Launch Complex 39B on Friday, Aug. 9, 2024. Simulated flight crew members practice getting out of the emergency egress basket and into the emergency transport vehicle to drive them to safety in the event of an unlikely emergency during launch countdown.

Teams at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida practice the Artemis mission emergency escape or egress procedures during a series of integrated system verification and validation tests at Launch Complex 39B on Friday, Aug. 9, 2024. Simulated flight crew members practice getting out of the emergency egress basket and into the emergency transport vehicle to drive them to safety in the event of an unlikely emergency during launch countdown.

The Canadian Forces Snowbirds fly in Concorde formation over NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida during their performance practice. The Snowbirds, Canada’s air demonstration team, carried out a practice flight over Kennedy and nearby Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on Wednesday, May 9, 2018, between their scheduled U.S. air shows.

Teams at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida practice the Artemis mission emergency escape or egress procedures during a series of integrated system verification and validation tests at Launch Complex 39B on Friday, Aug. 9, 2024. Simulated flight crew members practice getting out of the emergency egress basket and into the emergency transport vehicle to drive them to safety in the event of an unlikely emergency during launch countdown.

Teams at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida practice the Artemis mission emergency escape or egress procedures during a series of integrated system verification and validation tests at Launch Complex 39B on Friday, Aug. 9, 2024. Simulated flight crew members practice getting out of the emergency egress basket and into the emergency transport vehicle to drive them to safety in the event of an unlikely emergency during launch countdown.

Teams at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida practice the Artemis mission emergency escape or egress procedures during a series of integrated system verification and validation tests at Launch Complex 39B on Friday, Aug. 9, 2024. Simulated flight crew members practice getting out of the emergency egress basket and into the emergency transport vehicle to drive them to safety in the event of an unlikely emergency during launch countdown.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Neil A. Armstrong, commander for the Apollo 11 Moon-landing mission, practices for the historic event in a Lunar Module simulator in the Flight Crew Training Building at KSC. Accompanying Armstrong on the Moon flight will be Command Module Pilot Michael Collins and Lunar Module Pilot Edwin E. Aldrin Jr.

NASA Commercial Crew Program Astronauts Mike Hopkins and Kjell Lindgren practice operating the cameras they would use on board the International Space Station. Hopkins is assigned to the second flight of SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, and Lindgren is assigned as a backup for the Crew Dragon’s first and second flights.

NASA commercial crew astronaut Josh Cassada and Boeing astronaut Chris Ferguson prepare to practice water survival techniques at the Neutral Bouyancy Laboratory at Johnson Space Center in Houston. Cassada is assigned to the second crewed flight to the International Space Station of Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner. Ferguson is assigned to Starliner’s first crewed flight.

Dr. E. Stuhlinger, Dr. W. von Braun, and Dr. J. Piccard, along with others, take a swim in the Neutral Buoyancy Simulator (NBS) at the Marshall Space Flight Center. The NBS was instrumental in providing a zero-gravity environment where astronauts could practice tasks assigned for up coming space flights.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - STS-114 Pilot James Kelly suits up for practice flights on a Shuttle Training Aircraft (STA) used by Shuttle flight crews to practice landing the orbiter. The STA is a modified Grumman American Aviation-built Gulfstream II executive jet that was modified to simulate an orbiter’s cockpit, motion and visual cues, and handling qualities. In flight, the STA duplicates the orbiter’s atmospheric descent trajectory from approximately 35,000 feet altitude to landing on a runway. The orbiter differs in at least one major aspect from conventional aircraft; it is unpowered during re-entry and landing so its high-speed glide must be perfectly executed the first time. There is no go-around capability. The orbiter touchdown speed is 213 to 226 miles per hour. There are two STAs, based in Houston. STS-114 is the first Return to Flight mission, scheduled to launch July 13 in a window that extends through July 31.

NASA test pilot Nils Larson walks around an F-15B research aircraft for a rehearsal flight supporting the agency’s Quesst mission at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. The flight was part of a full-scale dress rehearsal for Phase 2 of the mission, which will eventually measure quiet sonic thumps generated by the X-59. The flight series helped NASA teams refine procedures and practice data collection ahead of future X-59 flights.

Teams at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida practice the Artemis mission emergency escape or egress procedures during a series of integrated system verification and validation tests at Launch Pad 39B on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. Members of the closeout crew, simulated flight crew, pad rescue team, and the Exploration Ground Systems Program practiced the process of getting inside and out of the emergency egress baskets. While the crew and other personnel will ride the emergency egress baskets to the terminus area in a real emergency, no one rode the baskets for this test. Instead, teams tested the baskets during separate occasions by using water tanks filled to different levels to replicate simulate the weight of passengers.

Teams at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida practice the Artemis mission emergency escape or egress procedures during a series of integrated system verification and validation tests at Launch Pad 39B on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. Members of the closeout crew, simulated flight crew, pad rescue team, and the Exploration Ground Systems Program practiced the process of getting inside and out of the emergency egress baskets. While the crew and other personnel will ride the emergency egress baskets to the terminus area in a real emergency, no one rode the baskets for this test. Instead, teams tested the baskets during separate occasions by using water tanks filled to different levels to replicate simulate the weight of passengers.

Teams at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida practice the Artemis mission emergency escape or egress procedures during a series of integrated system verification and validation tests at Launch Pad 39B on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. Members of the closeout crew, simulated flight crew, pad rescue team, and the Exploration Ground Systems Program practiced the process of getting inside and out of the emergency egress baskets. While the crew and other personnel will ride the emergency egress baskets to the terminus area in a real emergency, no one rode the baskets for this test. Instead, teams tested the baskets during separate occasions by using water tanks filled to different levels to replicate simulate the weight of passengers.

Teams at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida practice the Artemis mission emergency escape or egress procedures during a series of integrated system verification and validation tests at Launch Pad 39B on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. Members of the closeout crew, simulated flight crew, pad rescue team, and the Exploration Ground Systems Program practiced the process of getting inside and out of the emergency egress baskets. While the crew and other personnel will ride the emergency egress baskets to the terminus area in a real emergency, no one rode the baskets for this test. Instead, teams tested the baskets during separate occasions by using water tanks filled to different levels to replicate simulate the weight of passengers.

Teams at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida practice the Artemis mission emergency escape or egress procedures during a series of integrated system verification and validation tests at Launch Pad 39B on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. Members of the closeout crew, simulated flight crew, pad rescue team, and the Exploration Ground Systems Program practiced the process of getting inside and out of the emergency egress baskets. While the crew and other personnel will ride the emergency egress baskets to the terminus area in a real emergency, no one rode the baskets for this test. Instead, teams tested the baskets during separate occasions by using water tanks filled to different levels to replicate simulate the weight of passengers.

Teams at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida practice the Artemis mission emergency escape or egress procedures during a series of integrated system verification and validation tests at Launch Pad 39B on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. Members of the closeout crew, simulated flight crew, pad rescue team, and the Exploration Ground Systems Program practiced the process of getting inside and out of the emergency egress baskets. While the crew and other personnel will ride the emergency egress baskets to the terminus area in a real emergency, no one rode the baskets for this test. Instead, teams tested the baskets during separate occasions by using water tanks filled to different levels to replicate simulate the weight of passengers.

Launched atop an Atlas booster, the Agena target vehicle (ATV) was a spacecraft used by NASA to develop and practice orbital space rendezvous and docking techniques in preparation for the Apollo program lunar missions. This particular launch preceded the Gemini 12, which launched aboard a Titan launch vehicle one and one half hours later. The objective was for Agena and Gemini to rendezvous in space and practice docking procedures. An intermediate step between Project Mercury and the Apollo Program, the Gemini Program's major objectives were to subject two men and supporting equipment to long duration flights, to perfect rendezvous and docking with other orbiting vehicles, methods of reentry, and landing of the spacecraft.

Teams at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida practice the Artemis mission emergency escape or egress procedures during a series of integrated system verification and validation tests at Launch Pad 39B on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. Members of the closeout crew, simulated flight crew, pad rescue team, and the Exploration Ground Systems Program practiced the process of getting inside and out of the emergency egress baskets. While the crew and other personnel will ride the emergency egress baskets to the terminus area in a real emergency, no one rode the baskets for this test. Instead, teams tested the baskets during separate occasions by using water tanks filled to different levels to replicate simulate the weight of passengers.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- In Orbiter Processing Facility bay 2, during crew equipment interface test activities, STS-118 Mission Specialists Dr. Dafydd Williams (left) and Richard Mastrocchio (right) practice photographing the underside of the orbiter Endeavour, which they may do on the flight. At center is Mission Specialist Tracy Caldwell, who will also practice with the cameras. The STS-118 mission will be delivering the third starboard truss segment, the ITS S5, to the International Space Station, as well as the SPACEHAB single cargo module filled with supplies and equipment. Launch aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour is targeted for Aug. 9. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

Teams at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida practice the Artemis mission emergency escape or egress procedures during a series of integrated system verification and validation tests at Launch Pad 39B on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. Members of the closeout crew, simulated flight crew, pad rescue team, and the Exploration Ground Systems Program practiced the process of getting inside and out of the emergency egress baskets. While the crew and other personnel will ride the emergency egress baskets to the terminus area in a real emergency, no one rode the baskets for this test. Instead, teams tested the baskets during separate occasions by using water tanks filled to different levels to replicate simulate the weight of passengers.

Teams at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida practice the Artemis mission emergency escape or egress procedures during a series of integrated system verification and validation tests at Launch Pad 39B on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. Members of the closeout crew, simulated flight crew, pad rescue team, and the Exploration Ground Systems Program practiced the process of getting inside and out of the emergency egress baskets. While the crew and other personnel will ride the emergency egress baskets to the terminus area in a real emergency, no one rode the baskets for this test. Instead, teams tested the baskets during separate occasions by using water tanks filled to different levels to replicate simulate the weight of passengers.

Teams at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida practice the Artemis mission emergency escape or egress procedures during a series of integrated system verification and validation tests at Launch Pad 39B on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. Members of the closeout crew, simulated flight crew, pad rescue team, and the Exploration Ground Systems Program practiced the process of getting inside and out of the emergency egress baskets. While the crew and other personnel will ride the emergency egress baskets to the terminus area in a real emergency, no one rode the baskets for this test. Instead, teams tested the baskets during separate occasions by using water tanks filled to different levels to replicate simulate the weight of passengers.

Teams at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida practice the Artemis mission emergency escape or egress procedures during a series of integrated system verification and validation tests at Launch Pad 39B on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. Members of the closeout crew, simulated flight crew, pad rescue team, and the Exploration Ground Systems Program practiced the process of getting inside and out of the emergency egress baskets. While the crew and other personnel will ride the emergency egress baskets to the terminus area in a real emergency, no one rode the baskets for this test. Instead, teams tested the baskets during separate occasions by using water tanks filled to different levels to replicate simulate the weight of passengers.

S88-52476 (8 Nov 1988) --- John E. Blaha, STS-29 pilot, gets in some training on the operation of one of the payloads for his upcoming spaceflight aboard Discovery. The payload is an Imax motion-picture camera, hardware of which is out of frame here. Blaha uses a light meter to get a reading before operating the camera in a practice run. The crew met with Imax personnel on the JSC grounds to practice using the motion-picture camera, making its first post-Challenger trip into space. Phyllis Wilson with Imax is at far right. The payload flew on a number of earlier STS flights.

Teams at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida practice the Artemis mission emergency escape or egress procedures during a series of integrated system verification and validation tests at Launch Pad 39B on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. Members of the closeout crew, simulated flight crew, pad rescue team, and the Exploration Ground Systems Program practiced the process of getting inside and out of the emergency egress baskets. While the crew and other personnel will ride the emergency egress baskets to the terminus area in a real emergency, no one rode the baskets for this test. Instead, teams tested the baskets during separate occasions by using water tanks filled to different levels to replicate simulate the weight of passengers.

Teams at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida practice the Artemis mission emergency escape or egress procedures during a series of integrated system verification and validation tests at Launch Pad 39B on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. Members of the closeout crew, simulated flight crew, pad rescue team, and the Exploration Ground Systems Program practiced the process of getting inside and out of the emergency egress baskets. While the crew and other personnel will ride the emergency egress baskets to the terminus area in a real emergency, no one rode the baskets for this test. Instead, teams tested the baskets during separate occasions by using water tanks filled to different levels to replicate simulate the weight of passengers.

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- One of the shuttle training aircraft, or STA, flies over NASA Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility during landing practice. The commander and pilot of the STS-124 mission, Mark Kelly and Ken Ham, are making the practice landings. The STA is a Grumman American Aviation-built Gulf Stream II jet that was modified to simulate an orbiter's cockpit, motion and visual cues, and handling qualities. In flight, the aircraft duplicates the orbiter's atmospheric descent trajectory from approximately 35,000 feet altitude to landing on a runway. Space shuttle Discovery is scheduled to lift off on the STS-124 mission at 5:02 p.m. May 31. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

Teams at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida practice the Artemis mission emergency escape or egress procedures during a series of integrated system verification and validation tests at Launch Pad 39B on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. Members of the closeout crew, simulated flight crew, pad rescue team, and the Exploration Ground Systems Program practiced the process of getting inside and out of the emergency egress baskets. While the crew and other personnel will ride the emergency egress baskets to the terminus area in a real emergency, no one rode the baskets for this test. Instead, teams tested the baskets during separate occasions by using water tanks filled to different levels to replicate simulate the weight of passengers.

Teams at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida practice the Artemis mission emergency escape or egress procedures during a series of integrated system verification and validation tests at Launch Pad 39B on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. Members of the closeout crew, simulated flight crew, pad rescue team, and the Exploration Ground Systems Program practiced the process of getting inside and out of the emergency egress baskets. While the crew and other personnel will ride the emergency egress baskets to the terminus area in a real emergency, no one rode the baskets for this test. Instead, teams tested the baskets during separate occasions by using water tanks filled to different levels to replicate simulate the weight of passengers.

Teams at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida practice the Artemis mission emergency escape or egress procedures during a series of integrated system verification and validation tests at Launch Pad 39B on Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. Members of the closeout crew, simulated flight crew, pad rescue team, and the Exploration Ground Systems Program practiced the process of getting inside and out of the emergency egress baskets. While the crew and other personnel will ride the emergency egress baskets to the terminus area in a real emergency, no one rode the baskets for this test. Instead, teams tested the baskets during separate occasions by using water tanks filled to different levels to replicate simulate the weight of passengers.