Expedition 36/37 survival training

Expedition 36/37 crew during winter survival training near Star City, Russia.

From left: NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg, cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin and ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano.

Survival training is an important part of all Soyuz mission training. There is always the possibility that a Soyuz spacecraft could land in a remote, cold area. All astronauts have to learn to survive in harsh climates while waiting for rescue.

Luca is assigned flight engineer on Expedition 36/37 to the International Space Station planned for 2013.