Vladimir Pletser - Astronaut Training

ASTRONAUT TRAINING

Pletser trained and worked in various extreme conditions related to the space mission environment and was trained on various instruments and systems for space missions. He was also Training Instructor for NASA and ESA astronauts during parabolic flights and on ground for several Spacelab and ISS payloads and experiments.

1. Training and Operations in Weightlessness

He has already experienced intensively weightlessness since 1986 during 90 parabolic flight campaigns with ESA, CNES, DLR, NASA, the Russian Space Agency, and the Canadian Space Agency. He logged a total of 7389 parabolas, representing an accumulated total of 39h 34m of weightlessness, equivalent to 26.3 Earth orbits, more than the first American NASA astronauts V. Grissom (5h 8m), S. Carpenter (4h 56m); the American Scaled Composites astronauts M. Melvill (48m), B. Binnie (26m); Virgin Galactic Stucky M.P., Sturckow F.W., Mackay D., Masucci M., Moses B.; the first Russian cosmonauts P. Belayev (26h 2m), G. Titov (25h 18m), B. Yegorov (24h17m), K. Feoktistov (24h17m) Yu. Gagarin (1h48m); and the first Chinese taikonaut L. Yang (21h23m). He flew all parabolas without medication and he never experienced motion sickness, even for provocative experiments.

2. Training and Operations at Extra-terrestrial planetary gravity

He experienced partial gravity levels similar to those on the Moon and Mars during parabolic flights on the CNES-ESA Airbus A300 ZERO-G, logging an accumulated total of extra-terrestrial planetary g level time of 53 min. at Mars g-level and 50 min. at Moon-g level, during which he worked as experiment operator and subject.

3. Training and Operations in Hypergravity

He also experienced various hypergravity levels many times. During astronaut selections, he accumulated a total time of 1m 45s at 8g in supine position and 1m 15s at 5g in sitting position during centrifuge runs at the German Aerospace Centre DLR Medical Centre in Cologne and at the Dutch Air Force Base of Soesterberg in The Netherlands. He was also subject in 1990 to a centrifuge experiment in spatial orientation at 2g of Prof. H. Mittelstaedt (Max Planck Institute, Germany), at the German Air Force Base of Furstenfeldbruck.

He was exposed to an accumulated total time of 81h 18m 8s at 2g during pull-up and pull-out manoeuvres during parabolic flights and 10 m at levels between 4g and 6g during pull-up and pull-out manoeuvres with a Fouga Magister aerobatic aircraft, and 8 m 32 s at 4g during pull-up and pull-out manoeuvres during glider flights. He supervised and participated in several experiments in parabolic flights at other g-levels (with accumulated total time): 1.2 g (10m 30s), 1.3 g (32m 20s), 1.4 g (10m 30s), 1.6 g (13m 30s), and 1.8 g (7m 30s).

4. Training and Operations of Piloting and Parachuting

Since 1991, he has held a British Central Aviation Authority (CAA) Private Pilot Licence (PPL) and a Flight Radio-Telephony Operator’s Licence delivered by The Bournemouth Flying Club, England. He has logged 55 hours on Cessna-150 and -172 aeroplanes in Great Britain and Burundi.

In 1990, he followed a sky diving parachuting accelerated free-fall course at the Paracentrum, Texel, The Netherlands, where he qualified at level 1 with a free fall jump for 1 minute from 12000 to 5000 feet and precision landing with a square canopy. He obtained in 1982 a training certificate from the Belgian Para-Commando Forces at an initiation tower in Brussels. Since 1987, he has practised occasional paragliding.

5. Training and Operations of Underwater SCUBA Diving

A qualified scuba diver since 1988, he holds various qualifications from several international diving organisations:

- Qualified British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC) Advanced Diver (Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques (CMAS) 3 stars, 2013)

- Ice diving certification (2013)

- ESA European Astronaut Centre Neutral Buoyancy Facility (NBF) Guest Diver and NBF Surface Supply Diving System (SSDS) Diver certifications (2011)

- Technical Diving International (TDI) Nitrox Diver and Decompression Procedures (2004)

- BSAC Advanced Nitrox Diver (1997)

- CMAS International Certificate for Mixed Gas Diving (1997)

- BSAC Practical Rescue Management and Lifesaver Award (1994)

- BSAC Dive Leader (1992)

- BSAC Rescue Skills Oxygen Administration Award (1992)

- BSAC Sports Diver (1992)

- BSAC Novice Diver (1991)

- Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) Elementary Diving Certificate with Aqualung (1988)

He has logged 360 h undersea during 455 dives in the Arctic, Antarctic, North Sea, Mediterranean, Caribbean, Red Sea, Indian Ocean, Tanganyika Lake, Pacific Ocean, South China Sea, Indonesia, Maldives; polar dives, deep-sea diving (45 m), zero visibility, night, cave, ice, wreck, shark, manta and whale dives.

Ice diving in Tignes, France, in 2010.

Ice diving in Tignes.

Ice certification dive in Austria in 2013.

6. Training and Operations with Hypoxia and Gases other than Air

Pletser underwent six hypoxia tests of several minutes each during annual medical examinations for parabolic flight certifications between 1986 and 1999, and during the ESA astronaut selection at the German Aerospace Centre DLR Medical Centre.

During several experiments on the cardiopulmonary system during parabolic flights for which he was experiment subject, he had to breathe several gas mixtures different from air:

- 20%O2, 43.5%N2, 0.8%C2H2, 0.3%CO, 1%CH4, 1.2%SF6, 1.2%R22, 12%CO2, with Pulmonary Function System (PFS) before space flight on ISS (2006)

- 25%O2, 69.7%N2, 2.4%CH4, 1.6%CHClF2 (Freon 22), 1%SF6, 0.3%CO, with Advanced Respiratory Monitoring System (ARMS) before its space flight on STS-107 (1999)

- 35%O2, 59.5%N2, 5%CHClF2, 0.5%SF6 (1993)

- Helium / Air (1988).

He was also Test Subject for a ground and water immersion cardiopulmonary experiment, breathing a 50%O2, 44%N2, 5%N2O, 1%SF6 mix (2000).

He breathed also several times pure oxygen during denitrogenation prior to hypoxia tests, during jet flights and during training for O2 Administration for scuba diving rescue certification; and several times Nitrox (up to Nitrox-50) during scuba training and diving.

7. Training and Operations of Extra-Vehicular Activities

He trained in using various Extra-Vehicular Activity (EVA) systems on ground and under water.

During his participation in The Mars Society's Mars mission simulations, he logged 44h30m of EVA during 16 simulated EVA expeditions, including 9 as EVA Commander, and 12 motorised EVAs using 4 wheels All Terrain Vehicle (ATV's) Quads, as follows:

Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS), in Utah Desert, USA

- 4h30 during 2 EVA’s as EVA Commander, including 1 motorized (2009)

- 22h30 during 8 EVA's, of which 7 as EVA Commander, including 6 motorized (2002)

Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station (FMARS), in the Canadian Arctic Circle:

- 17h30 during 6 EVA's, including 5 motorized (2001)

He followed underwater EVA Introduction Training at ESA’s European Astronaut Centre (EAC) Neutral Buoyancy Facility (NBF) with Columbus and Mir EVA airlock hydro-mock-ups, as follows:

- EVA Training Introduction; Use of SSDS (Surface Supply Diving System) with full face mask and the EVA underwater suit (2011)

- EVA Basic Training (2010-11)

- EVA Demonstration dives (2004)

With Herve Stevenin at the EAC Neutral Buoyancy Facility in 2011.

Doning the EVA pool suit.

Testing the portable tool rack with Herve Stevenin.

Ready to dive in.

In the Mir EVA airlock hydro mockup.

8. NASA Astronaut Training

Pletser trained several times at various NASA centres.

He followed in 1995 the NASA Payload Specialist Astronaut Programme for the STS-78 mission with Spacelab LMS (Life and Microgravity Spacelab, flown in June 1996). He trained as a Payload Specialist Candidate on Spacelab and Shuttle systems at the NASA Johnson Space Centre (JSC), Houston, Texas.

He trained further on NASA and ESA science payloads and experiments at the NASA Marshall Space Flight Centre (MSFC) Payload Crew Training Complex (PCTC), Huntsville, Alabama; and at ESTEC and Investigators universities and laboratories on Spacelab LMS payloads and instruments:

Physical Sciences: Advanced Gradient Heating Facility (AGHF); Bubble, Drop, Particle Unit (BDPU); Advanced Protein Crystallization Facility (APCF); Orbital Acceleration Research Experiment (OARE); Microgravity Measurement Assembly (MMA); Space Acceleration Measurement System (SAMS);
Life Sciences: Canal and Otolith Interaction Studies (COIS); Sleep and Circadian Studies (SACS); Astronaut Lung Function Experiment (ALFE); Performance Assessment Work Station (PAWS); Torso Rotation Experiment (TRE); Torque Velocity Dynamometer (TVD); Musculoskeletal Experiments; Energy Expenditure/Metabolism experiment (METAB); Animal Enclosure Module (AEM); Plant Growth Facility (PGF); Space Tissue Loss Module-B (STL-B); Spacelab Refrigerator and Freezer Unit; Spacelab Urine Monitoring System (UMS), Spacelab Blood and Urine Kits

He also participated in Ground Baseline Data Collection (BDC) physiology experiments at American and European Investigators Laboratories in several US and European universities and research centres.

He has held since 1990 the 'Space Mission Ground Operations Protocol' certification (course #02205) of the NASA-MSFC Payload Operation and Control Center (POCC), obtained during the First International Microgravity Laboratory Spacelab IML-1 training at ESTEC. He followed this training several times:

- at the NASA-MSFC POCC in Huntsville during Spacelab Life and Microgravity Sciences simulations (1996)

- at the NASA-JSC Payload Operation and Control Center – Mission Control Center (POCC-MCC) in Houston during Spacehab STS-95 simulations (1998)

- at the Taxi-Flight Operation and Control Centre (TOCC), Erasmus Centre, ESTEC, during the ISS Odissea mission simulations (2002).

9. Training and Operations of ESA Space Payloads and Systems in 0g during Parabolic Flights

Pletser trained and operated on ground and in weightlessness during parabolic flights several ESA payloads, instruments and systems for the ISS, Spacelab, Spacehab, Russian Mir Station, and the ESA Columbus Laboratory. Since the advent of the ISS in the late 1990s and early 2000s, most of the European microgravity payloads and space station systems were flown regularly during parabolic flights before their launch to the ISS. He was therefore associated with their preparation and test performance during ESA campaigns.

ISS Payloads

He was a Test Subject for the experiments:

- Dextrous Manipulation DEX-GRIP (in Columbus since 2017), on A300 and A310 (1999-2014)

- 3D-Ballistocardiography experiment (flown on Russian Zvezda Module, 2016) on A300 (2011-2014)

- Colbert T2 Treadmill with Subject Loading System (in NASA Tranquillity Module, 2011), on A300 (2010)

- Pulmonary Function System (PFS, in Human Research Facility rack, NASA Lab Destiny), on A300 (2005)

- Crew Return Vehicle (CRV, foresaw for ISS) accommodation and ergonomic study of free-floating motion in CRV cockpit, on A300 (2000)

- Tests of the Mirsupio pouch (ISS crew support equipment), on A300 (2000)

- Cardiovascular system experiments (performed on ISS astronauts and cosmonauts and on Chinese taikonauts), on A300 (2000-2003)

- Flywheel resistive exercise device (used for astronaut post-flight experiments, 2003)

He was the Test Operator for the experiments:

- Electrostatic Structure Assembly Demonstrator (in Columbus, ISS Eneide mission, 2005), on A300 (2004)

- Combustion Synthesis Module (COSMIC, MSG Glovebox, NASA Lab. Destiny, ISS Odissea mission ), on A300 (2001-02)

- Gas analyzer ANITA (Analyzing Interferometer for Ambient Air) (NASA Lab. Destiny), on A300 (2004)

He supervised the tests of the Refrigerator/Freezer Rack (RFR) heat exchanger system (foreseen on NASA Lab. Destiny), on A300 (2001, 2004)

- Foam stability in microgravity experiment (ISS Oasis mission, 2009) on A300 (2008)

Spacelab – Spacehab Payloads

He was a Test Subject for the experiments:

- Advanced Respiratory Monitoring System (on Spacehab, STS-107, 2003), on A300 (1999)

- Data verification of Neurolab experiment E008: Visuo-motor coordination in spaceflight (on Spacelab Neurolab/STS-90, 1998), on A300 (1999)

- Anthrorack support equipment (Spacelab D2/STS-55, 1993), on KC-135 at NASA-JSC (1988)

He was the Test Operator for the experiments:

- Bubble, Drop, Particle Unit (BDPU, on Spacelab LMS/STS-78, 1996), on DC-9 at NASA-LeRC (1995)

- Bubble, Drop, Particle Unit (BDPU, Spacelab IML-2/STS-65, 1994), on Caravelle and A300 (1991-94)

- Advanced Fluid Physics Module (AFPM, on Spacelab D2/STS-55, 1993), on KC-135 at NASA-JSC and Caravelle at Bretigny, France (1992-93)

- Anthrorack Respiratory Monitoring System (RMS, Spacelab D2/STS-55, 1993), on KC-135 (1987)

- Glovebox (1987-91; first flown on Spacelab USML-1/STS-50, 1992)

- Biorack (1987-91; Spacelab IML-1/STS-42, 1992)

Russian Mir space station: EUROMIR-94/95 missions

He was the Technical Coordinator and Test Subject on the Russian Ilyushin IL-76 (1993-94) for the physiology experiments:

- Correlation of eye torsion changes with space adaptation syndrome, Prof. Markham C. (UCLA, USA)

- Otolith adaptation to different gravity levels, Dr Bles W. (TNO Soesterberg, NL)

- Posture and movements, Prof. Berthoz A. (CNRS Paris, F)

- Influence of space flight on energy metabolism, Dr Demaria-Pesce V. (CNRS Paris, F)

and for European facilities and instruments:

- Respiratory Monitoring System-2 (RMS-2)

- Urine Monitoring System (UMS)

- Analog Biomechanics Recorder (ANBRE) suit

- The Munich Space Chair

ESA Columbus Laboratory Systems

He was the Technical Coordinator and Test Subject on Caravelle (1989-91) for design validation and human factor tests with the ESTEC Columbus Crew Work Station Test-Bed Group of:

- Columbus Payload Double Rack handling and transport

- Rack connectors handling

- General Purpose Work Bench (GPWB) mock-up

- Orbital Replacement Unit (ORU)

- Crew support equipment

- Crew restraint and mobility systems

- Computer systems Man-Machine Interfaces

11. Training and Operations of ESA Space Systems in Ground Columbus Mock-Up

In 1990 and 1991, Pletser participated in several ground studies and validation tests of various systems in development for the ESA Columbus Laboratory module at ESTEC. He was subject for the Habitability Architectural Evaluation Study for a Space Habitat Module and operator of simulation tests in the Columbus Laboratory mock-up at ESTEC for:

- The Evaluation of the Columbus Emergency, Warning and Caution System (EWACS),

- The Crew Work Station Architecture and Module Control Station Evolution (CWSA & MCSE), and

- The 'Isolation Study for the European Manned Space Infrastructure' (ISEMSI) shadow experiment 'Multimedia-Teletraining: electronics repair'.

In 1990, he was also a Test Subject for the Astronaut Candidate Psychometric Test Battery and participated in the selection process for human test subjects for the ISEMSI simulation, both organised by the Norwegian Underwater Technology Centre (NUTEC) at ESTEC.

In 1994, he was the only European applicant for the Human Behaviour in Extended Spaceflight (HUBES) study of a crew of three isolated for 135 days in the Mir station mock-up at the Institute for Biomedical Problems, Moscow, Russia. His application, however, was not retained.

12. Astronaut Training Instructor experience

He trained several other astronauts on the instruments for which he was responsible. In 1992, he was the Training Instructor of NASA Mission Specialist Astronauts and the German DLR Payload Specialist Astronauts of Spacelab D2 mission for the Advanced Fluid Physics Module (AFPM) fluid physics experiments on ground in the DLR Spacelab mock-up (Köln, Germany) and in microgravity during KC-135 parabolic flights, at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston.

In 1998, he supervised the training of NASA and ESA Spacehab/STS-95 astronauts at Dornier, Friedrichshafen, Germany, for the Advanced Protein Crystallisation Facility (APCF) in-flight operations.

In 2010 and 2011, he was one of the Training Instructors of the new ESA astronaut candidates in microgravity during parabolic flights with the Airbus A300 ZERO-G on the Subject Loading System (SLS) with the Colbert T2 treadmill mounted in a vertical position in the Airbus A300 et on the chair and restraint systems for the Dexterous Manipulation payload (DEX).

13. AdvancingX Career Astronaut Training

In July 2022, he took part in the AdvancingX Career Astronaut Training program at Lake Tahoe in California, which included a rogaining session at high altitude (above 2000 m) and several diving sessions in Lake Tahoe (altitude of approx. 1900 m), with simulations of lunar walking at depth.

14. Other operational skills

He was trained in fire-fighting methods at ESTEC by the ESTEC Safety Fire Brigade, and he was the Area coordinator for fire safety and building evacuation from 1998 to 2001.

In 1990, he followed the course on 'Safe working with Radioactivity' of the Harwell Laboratory, United Kingdom, at ESTEC.

In 2013, he followed the course for the Airport Security Awareness Training Certificate at the Butterfly Aero Training Centre, Bordeaux-Merignac airport, France.

He practised his Russian language skills by attending Russian classes at ESTEC (Profile International Class 2, 1993-94, and Class 3, 1997-98) and the International Berlitz School (professional level 8, 1997), in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

15. Public Relations activities experience

He has enjoyed participating in the launches of friends and colleagues astronauts, and assisting with ESA Public Relations activities. He attended several NASA Shuttle launches at the NASA Kennedy Space Center.

In March 1992, he attended and escorted ESA and Belgian VIP guests during the launch of the STS-45 mission carrying the Spacelab ATLAS-1 with Payload Specialist Dr D. Frimout, the first Belgian Astronaut.

In November 1994, he escorted ESA and French VIP guests during the launch of the STS-66 mission carrying the Spacelab ATLAS-3, with ESA Mission Specialist J.F. Clervoy.

In February 1996, he escorted ESA, Swiss and Italian VIP guests during the STS-75 launch, carrying the Tethered Satellite System (TSS-1R) for its first re-flight, with ESA Mission Specialists C. Nicollier and M. Cheli and Italian Space Agency (ASI) Payload Specialist U. Guidoni. This mission was particularly special as M. Cheli offered to fly Pletser's and his wife's wedding rings in space.

In May 1997, he attended the launch of the STS-84 Shuttle-to-Mir mission, with ESA Mission Specialist J.F. Clervoy.

In October 1998, he attended the launch of the STS-95/Spacehab mission with ESA Astronaut P. Duque and NASA Payload Specialist John Glenn on his second flight.

In October 2002, he attended the launch of the Soyuz / Semiorka rocket for the Belgian Taxi-Flight Odissea mission in Baikonur, Kazakhstan.

In 2009, he took part in the University of Brussels ULB (see here in French) and at the Euro Space Centre, Transinne, in the “Space Week 2009”, a gathering of 13 astronauts and cosmonauts talking to students, organised by the Euro Space Society in various cities in Belgium.

In 2013, he participated in a public event with ESA astronauts M. Togninni, J.F. Clervoy, and M. Cheli at the Nemo33 Diving pool in Brussels, Belgium, to celebrate the comic heroine astronaut Tania Bradley (see here).

He participated in the 2022 Belgian Space Week to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the flight of Dr D. Frimout, the first Belgian Astronaut, and the 20th anniversary of the first flight of F. De Winne, the second Belgian Astronaut. This event, organised by the Mars Society Belgium, saw nine astronauts and cosmonauts travel throughout Belgium and speak in nine different universities to several thousand students, including UCLouvain (see also here) in Louvain-la-Neuve.

He further participated in the 2024 Belgian Space Week, organised by the Mars Society Belgium, which brought together six astronauts and cosmonauts to speak with students at the Haute École Provinciale de Liège (HEPL), the Free University of Brussels, the Catholic University of Louvain, the University of Namur, and the Euro Space Centre.

16. Expert positions

Pletser gave expert support to several companies for the definition of astronaut training activities, including:

- Definition of the astronaut basic training programme for Titans Space Industries (2025);

- Definition of astronaut selection and training concepts for the Euro Space Centre, Redu, Belgium (2018-19);

- Conceptual study of astronaut training facilities for Blue Abyss, United Kingdom (2017-18);

- Support to ‘Astronaut Space Training’ and ‘Space and Taste’ programmes for the 47 Degrees company, Switzerland (2017).

17. Media Reports

on training for Titans Space Industries

- "Career notes with former NASA Astronaut Bill McArthur", Podcast N2K, Special Edition, 19 July 2025 (at 31m 10s)

on the Belgian Space Week

- "Rencontrez des astronautes lors de la Belgian Space Week à l’Euro Space Center (Libin)", Belgian daily newspaper Sudinfo La Meuse, 1 October 2024.

- "Quatre astronautes à la rencontre des étudiants", Belgian daily newspaper Sudinfo, 18 October 2022.

- "Semaine belge de l’espace: quatre astronautes à la rencontre des étudiants de l’UCLouvain", Belgian daily newspaper Sudinfo, 17 October 2022.

- "Une semaine la tête dans les étoiles", Belgian daily newspaper Sudinfo, 17 October 2022.

- "Province de Luxembourg : la semaine du 17 au 21 octobre se tiendra la «Belgian Space Week»", Belgian daily newspaper Sudinfo, 13 October 2022.

on diving in Antarctica

- De Maagt P. "Antarctica: Het leven in de diepvries" (in Dutch "Antarctica: Life in the Deep Freeze"), Dutch diving magazine Duiken, February 2014.

on Tania comic strip

- "Euro Space Center Redu Presentation du nouvel album de Tania Astronaute de Pierre Emmanuel Paulis", Ardenne Web.eu, 10 April 2008.