It is a scenario nobody wants to experience: a toxic leak or fire on the International Space Station. But astronauts living and working in humanity’s orbital outpost must be prepared for all eventualities.
ESA astronaut Alexander (white t-shirt) and NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman (blue) are practising dealing with an ammonia leak during training in NASA’s Space Station mock-up in Houston, USA.
This is just one of many simulations in the run-up to their mission, to be launched this May. Reid couldn’t wish for a better crewmate for these types of exercise – Alexander was a volunteer firefighter in his school years.