Luca survival training

ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano building a fire during winter survival training near Star City, Russia.

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 a long duration mission to the International Space Station planned for 2013.