The Evolution of NASA's Astronaut Training Facilities

Since the dawn of space exploration, NASA has been at the forefront of developing state-of-the-art facilities to train its astronauts. The Mission Simulation and Training Facility (MSTF) and the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility (SVMF) are two of the most crucial training grounds for future space missions. This article delves into the rich history and evolution of these facilities, from Project Gemini to the current Orion program.

The Mission Simulation and Training Facility (MSTF)

The Mission Simulation and Training Facility (MSTF), located in Building 5 at NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston, Texas, has played a pivotal role in training NASA astronauts for Gemini, Apollo, Skylab, space shuttle, and International Space Station missions. Construction of Building 5, the MSTF, began in January 1964 and was completed by April 1965. It was initially designed to support Gemini and Apollo missions, hosting simulators in the north and south wings.

Early Gemini and Apollo Simulators

The Gemini Mission Simulator arrived at the MSTF in August 1964, installed in Building 4 and then transferred to Building 5 post-completion. The first Apollo simulators, delivered in December 1965, included a Command Module Simulator, a Lunar Module Simulator, and the already installed Translation and Docking Simulator, modified from its Gemini use. A Water Immersion Facility (WIF) was installed in the east end of the north wing in 1967 for spacewalk training.

Skylab and Space Shuttle Training

With the advent of Skylab, America's first space station, full-scale trainers and simulators were installed in the south wing of the MSTF in late 1971. Astronauts used these trainers, which were later on display at Space Center Houston. Between 1976 and 1978, MSTF underwent renovations to support the Space Shuttle Program, incorporating simulators like the Motion Base Simulator (MBS) and the Fixed Base Simulator (FBS).

The Space Vehicle Mockup Facility (SVMF)

The Space Vehicle Mockup Facility (SVMF), initially part of Building 9 and later an extension to Building 5, has been a vital training ground for both space missions and space vehicles. Construction began in December 1965 and was completed in March 1967 as part of the third phase of building at the Clear Lake site. This building initially housed the Technical Services Facility.

Lunar Surface Training and Early Shuttle Mockups

From 1969, a portion of Building 9 was converted to a mock lunar surface scene, with Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin practicing their historic Moon walk. For later Apollo missions, lunar surface training shifted to Kennedy Space Center in Florida. In 1974, the first space shuttle mockup, the Crew Compartment Trainer (CCT), was built in Building 9, followed by the Full Fuselage Trainer (FFT) in 1976. These mockups trained astronauts for shuttle missions and later orbiter emergency egress training.

International Space Station and Beyond

In 1991, an addition to the south wing of Building 5 was completed to house the Space Station Training Facility (SSTF) for Space Station Freedom and the International Space Station. Training began in 1996, and the facility contains high-fidelity simulators of space station modules. The SSTF's high bay also hosts the traditional crew cake cutting ceremony marking the end of formal training before launch.

Future Training and Exploration

The MSTF and SVMF continue to evolve, with facilities like the first two Crew Part Task Trainers for the Boeing CST-100 Starliner arriving in September 2016, the Orion simulator arriving in December 2020, and the Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) testing ongoing. The SVMF, extending northwest of Building 9, continues to adapt to new space programs, ensuring that astronauts are ready for the challenges of future space exploration.