Published in the Marine Technology Society Journal, Winter 2000/2001: Volume 34(4): 69-74
Dr. Steven L. Miller and Craig Cooper
UNCW Center for Marine Science
National Undersea Research Center
515 Caribbean Drive
Key Largo, Florida 33037
The fully equipped underwater laboratory includes several components. The Aquarius “habitat” module is an 82–ton double–lock pressure vessel that measures approximately 14–meters long by 3–meters in diameter. Scientists live and work inside the habitat when they are not on excursions, diving outside on the reefs. Entry is through the 20–m3 wet porch (Figure 3: low–res/high–res), which contains an open moon pool, dive equipment storage areas, and hot water heater and shower. There are two main compartments in the Aquarius module. The 14–m3 “entry lock,” contains bench space for computers and experiments, power equipment, life support controls, small viewports and bathroom facilities. The largest living space is the 40–m3 “main lock.” It includes berths for the six–person crew, computer work stations, two large viewports, kitchen facilities that include a microwave, instant hot water dispenser, refrigerator, sink, and dining and work areas (Figure 4: low–res/high–res). The main lock also contains life support controls, so both the entry and main locks can be independently pressurized.
The Aquarius baseplate is a 116–ton structure that provides a stable and level support base for the habitat. Each of the four legs contains 25 tons of lead ballast. The legs have seven feet of adjustment for leveling in variable seafloor terrain through the use of hydraulically–driven screw jacks. The habitat and baseplate were designed to survive severe storm conditions and have successfully weathered hurricanes in both the Caribbean and Florida.
The Life Support Buoy (LSB) is a 10–meter diameter buoy (Figure 5: low–res/high–res) that was provided by NOAA’s National Data Buoy Center. The LSB is maintained above Aquarius on a five–point mooring using 2 and 5/8 inch diameter double–braided nylon lines connected to approximately 1.5–meter diameter spring buoys. Mooring plates were installed with anchor bolts grouted 1.2–meters into the seafloor. The LSB includes a communication tower and over 70–square meters of inside work space. Inside are two diesel–powered 40 kW generators, two 18.7 cfm air compressors, VHF radios, a cell phone, and a microwave broadcasting system. The LSB is linked to Aquarius by a three–inch diameter 42–meter unitized umbilical, which contains hoses that supply air from the compressors and oxygen from storage flasks, power lines from the generators, and two coaxial cables and 12 twisted pair wires for data and communications. The microwave telemetry system provides reliable audio, video, and data transmission between Aquarius and shore using Wave Wireless Networking. Wave Wireless is a telecommunications and data communications manufacturer, and the specific system used is their SPEEDLAN 10ptp wireless link. The SPEEDLAN 10ptp is a 10–Mbps wireless point–to–point bridge that provides a secure wireless connection between Aquarius, the LSB, and shore. System upgrades are planned to increase bandwidth for improved video and voice communications that will support new broadcast and education programs.
A shore–based Mission Control center is located in Key Largo, approximately 12 kilometers from Aquarius, and includes a specially designed “watch desk” with computers and communication equipment linked to Aquarius via wireless telemetry. Also located on shore are: docks for the program’s boats; office space; storage and work rooms for dive gear and equipment; an electronics shop; a six–person, dual–lock decompression chamber for emergency evacuation of Aquarius; two laboratories; and living accommodations for on–duty staff and visiting scientists.
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