Case Study: European Space Agency speeds astronaut training with Cortona3D

European Space Agency employs Cortona3D three-dimensional, interactive animation to speed training

The European Space Agency (ESA) faced a challenge in training astronauts on complex, safety-critical procedures for missions like operating the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV). Their old training methods relied on heavy, multi-lingual paper manuals that were impractical for in-orbit review and hindered efficient learning. To modernize this process, ESA turned to vendor Cortona3D and its RapidLearning software to develop a new interactive training solution.

Cortona3D implemented a solution using its RapidLearning toolset to create animated, interactive 3D training simulations from existing engineering documents and CAD assets. This allowed astronauts to visually learn and rehearse procedures on a portable PC, enabling just-in-time reviews even in space. The results showed that astronauts learned faster and retained more knowledge, with questionnaires confirming the tool's effectiveness. This led to improved accuracy and mission safety, with plans to expand the use of Cortona3D's technology to other procedures and equipment.

European Space Agency (ESA)

Richard Moss

ATV Crew Instructor & Team Coordinator