View of the Aquarius Life Support Buoy from just below the surface. The umbilical that links to Aquarius enters a pipe that penetrates completely through the buoy and exits on the upper deck, then bends broadly back down into a special fitting that connects to the inner workings of the buoy. The pipe connection prevents water from leaking into the buoy: holes in the bottom of the LSB are not a good idea! Also visible in this picture is one of the mooring lines attached to the bottom of the buoy. The LSB is fixed in a four-point mooring with a fifth emergency line connected to the center (visible) that is attached to the bottom.

The telemetry system antenna and broadcast box are located at the top of the LSB tower. The telemetry system is used to broadcast audio, video, and data, to mission control - nine miles away.

Electronics in the LSB are contained within a special rack system. Included is a computer for the telemetry system, backup power supplies, and other communication equipment (VHF radio, cellular phone).

The LSB generator room contains to 49KW generators that are used to supply power to both the LSB and Aquarius. Only one generator operates at a time, with the second available as a backup.

During operations from 1993 to 1996 a Mobile Support Barge (MSB) was staffed 24 hours a day during Aquarius missions. The MSB (50 feet wide and 100 feet long), which contained all the life support and communications equipment needed to run Aquarius, was moored directly over the underwater laboratory. The MSB was replaced with the LSB in 1998.