The Vomit Comet Chair: Watch Shukla's intense training at NASA

Imagine being strapped into a machine that spins you around in every direction, testing your limits and pushing your body to the edge. This isn't a scene from a sci-fi movie, but a real-life training session for astronauts at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Centre.

Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla recently shared a thrilling video of himself undergoing training in the Multi-Axis Trainer, also known as the Gimbal Rig or Vomit Comet Chair.

The trainer is a complex machine designed to mimic the violent tumbling that a spacecraft can experience in orbit. The goal is to help astronauts stay calm, regain control and complete mission tasks under extreme physical stress.

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A post shared by Shubhanshu Shukla (@gagan.shux)

Interestingly, Mercury astronauts once used the same device, although it was not required for their specific missions. However, the technique proved vital later, as seen in the Gemini 8 mission, where Neil Armstrong had to manually stabilise the spacecraft after a thruster failure.

Despite its nickname, the Vomit Comet Chair does not always induce nausea, as the stomach stays centred, reducing sickness. However, Shukla warns that closing the eyes can confuse the brain.

After completing the training session, Shukla captioned his video "Let's get spinning" and added a final message: "Enjoy the ride."

“This video is inspiring me and I'm sure every kid who sees this will dare to break the boundaries ✨ you're such a great inspiration to all of us,” read a comment.

Another user wrote, “This looks scary but interesting, Thank you for sharing this information with us,” and a third said, “This looks extraordinarily amazing.”