The Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center announces that astronaut Mohammed Al Mulla has completed the European Space Agency’s CAVES training

The Mohammed bin Rashid Space Center announced the success of astronaut Mohammed Al Mulla in completing the CAVES training program, which extended over a period of two weeks, organized by the European Space Agency, in the Molise and Campania regions of Italy, with the participation of an international crew of astronauts affiliated with the European Space Agency, the US Space Agency (NASA), and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

The CAVES program, which is known as the Joint Adventure for Evaluating and Training Human Behavior and Performance Skills, is one of the most prominent advanced behavioral training programs, as it prepares astronauts to work efficiently and safely within integrated teams in exploratory environments that simulate the challenges of space.

The program included technical lectures, field activities, and a multi-day expedition into underground caves, during which the team lived in complete isolation, far from any aspects of daily life.

During this experience, Muhammad Al-Mulla and his colleagues gained practical experience in the fields of underground exploration, mapping, and conducting scientific research, in addition to developing communication and leadership skills, stress management, and decision-making.

The program also provided an environment that simulates the conditions of space missions, including isolation from the outside world, absence of the usual time rhythm, limited privacy and equipment, in addition to technical challenges and the constant presence of risks.

Al-Mulla’s achievement in completing this specialized program enhances his scientific and practical credentials, and represents an important milestone in his career, contributing to supporting future space missions and enhancing international cooperation in space exploration.