The CAVES 2011 team discovered a promising new route to explore with very large open spaces. Here a trainee is peering down from a high spot to look for a way ahead. ESA’s cave training prepares astronauts to work as an international team inreal exploration conditions. Sending astronauts underground to survive andexplore Sardinian caves in Italy for almost a week is just one element oftheir long training. The Sardinian caves are isolated from the outside world. The astronauts needto get used to confined spaces, minimal privacy, technical challenges andlimited equipment and supplies for hygiene and comfort - just like in space.