Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla delighted space enthusiasts with a behind-the-scenes glimpse into his astronaut training, releasing a video of himself inside the iconic Multi Axis Trainer (MAT) at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center.

The video shows Shukla enduring the rigours of a device designed to recreate the intense and disorienting motions astronauts may encounter in space, particularly in roll, pitch, and yaw axes.

The Multi Axis Trainer, also known as the Mercury Astronaut Trainer, was historically developed to prepare America’s early astronauts for the possibility of their capsule spinning uncontrollably during orbital flights.

“This trainer was used to expose the Mercury astronauts to excessive rates in roll, pitch, and yaw should the capsule experience the same in orbit,” Shukla explained. “The aim was to expose the astronauts to such rates so that they can control the space capsule in spite of being under such extreme rates,” he added.

While such extreme conditions never materialised for the Mercury crew, the training’s legacy endured. Shukla recounted the dramatic episode when legendary astronaut Neil Armstrong faced exactly this scenario during the Gemini 8 mission.

In 1966, while docking with the Agena target vehicle, a thruster malfunction sent Armstrong’s spacecraft tumbling at alarming speeds. Drawing on his training, Armstrong swiftly took manual control and stabilised the situation, a feat still revered in astronaut lore.

Shukla’s account also provided insights into the physical sensations experienced inside the MAT.

Despite its intense appearance, trainees typically avoid motion sickness. “Incidentally, you don’t feel sick in this trainer as your stomach is at the center always,” Shukla noted. However, he cautioned against closing one’s eyes inside the trainer, warning that sensory conflicts may arise, leading to feelings of nausea—a discomfort he admitted he was “not ready to try”.

Through this candid share, Shukla offered a rare view into the demanding world of astronaut preparation, which blends history, science, and human determination.

– Ends