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
As the International Space Station orbits earth in outer space, it may surprise you to learn that America also operates an “inner space” station called Aquarius (Figure 1: low–res/high–res), the world’s only undersea laboratory dedicated to marine science and education. Owned by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and managed by the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW), Aquarius operates 4.5 kms offshore of Key Largo, Florida. The underwater laboratory is deployed next to deep coral reefs, 20 meters beneath the surface. As in its outer space counterpart, “aquanauts&8221; explore and investigate an environment hostile to human habitation. Aquarius provides life support systems that allow scientists to live and work underwater, in reasonably comfortable living quarters, with sophisticated research capabilities.
Aquarius is a valuable national asset that advances our understanding of the ocean and its resources. The underwater laboratory also provides a unique window into our oceans, where special events and media access help to capture the attention and imagination of students and the public, worldwide.
A short history of living in the sea
In the brief history of undersea laboratories (also known as “habitats”), 65 separate programs operated during the last four decades (Koblick and Miller, 1995), including Jacques Cousteau’s famous Conshelf project and American programs such as Tektite, Hydrolab, and the US Navy’s Sealab Program, managed by Dr. George F. Bond. The early days focused on human physiology; the Navy’s Genesis Program (1957 — 1962) set standards that defined the birth of saturation diving and led to the SeaLab programs (Bond and Siteri 1993, Barth 2000). The technical achievements of the Genesis Program and SeaLab revolutionized the commercial dive industry. However, the science community was slow to adopt saturation diving techniques.
Most underwater habitats were best described as projects, rather than programs. Science objectives were not always well defined, operations and administration sometimes faltered, and funding was not sustained. Still, significant advances were made and the success of the Aquarius program is built on the legacy of these past efforts. The longest running program, in terms of missions conducted, was Hydrolab. Approximately 180 Hydrolab missions were conducted in the Bahamas (100 missions in the early to mid 1970s) and St. Croix, USVI (80 missions from 1977 to 1985). Aquarius is the second longest running program, and currently the only underwater laboratory dedicated to science operating in the world. Over 50 missions have already been completed using Aquarius (as of August 2000).
NOAA's and UNCW's Aquarius program
Aquarius was originally conceived and funded by NOAA’s National Undersea Research Program (NURP) in the mid 1980s. The underwater laboratory was built by Victoria Machine Works in 1986–87. Initial deployment was in the U.S. Virgin Islands where 13 missions were conducted before Hurricane Hugo struck in 1989, and devastated St. Croix. Aquarius was retrieved from the seafloor in 1990 and was moved to North Carolina where it was refurbished under the direction of UNCW. In 1993, the laboratory was redeployed in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, and supported 22 missions during the next three years. In 1996, Aquarius was recovered, refurbished and “re–invented” in partnership with UNCW, NOAA, and Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution. Many improvements were made to the system including construction of a semi–autonomous life support buoy that replaced a 17 by 34–meter life support barge. Aquarius was redeployed in 1997 (Figure 2: low–res/high–res) and operations resumed in 1998. Since then, Aquarius has supported over 20 missions and has a full mission schedule well into 2001. NOAA continues to be the primary source of funding for the program.
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