ESA Astronaut: Luca Parmitano ready for EVA

In this picture, ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano is seen preparing for a simulated spacewalk and is wearing a training version of his Extravehicular Mobility Unit spacesuit.

He is about to be submerged in the waters of the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory near NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas.

Divers in the water will assist Luca and fellow spacewalker, NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy, in their rehearsal, which is intended to help prepare them for work on the outside of the International Space Station.

Luca will perform two spacewalks during his Volare mission, which starts May on the International Space Station.

As Expedition 36/37 flight engineer, Luca will conduct planned maintenance tasks, replace a camera mounted on Japan’s Kibo module and retrieve science payloads.

One of his spacewalks will also prepare for the arrival of the Russia’sn Multipurpose Laboratory Module (MLM).

Credits: NASA