Thursday, October 25, 2001

Key Largo, FL -- The October 21-27 mission of the Aquarius undersea laboratory currently underway includes three NASA astronauts and one astronaut training specialist. During the 7-day mission the project team will live underwater using Aquarius as a space analogue for working and training under conditions that are surprisingly similar to many of the challenges faced in outer space.

Aquarius is located in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, 60 feet underwater, and 3.5 miles offshore, near Key Largo. Owned by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and operated by the University of North Carolina at Wilmington (UNCW), Aquarius is the only undersea research platform of its kind in the world.

Aquarius is typically used by marine scientists to study coral reefs and our coastal ocean. Its unique design allows "aquanauts" to live and work on the seafloor for extended periods using a special technique called saturation diving. This dramatically increases the time divers can spend working in the ocean depths and provides more convenient, on-site access to science equipment, and computers - the lab even has Internet connections. The system has also proven to be extremely safe, with no serious injuries reported in Aquarius’ 14-year history.

During the October mission, several different NASA departments will monitor the progress of the astronaut crew from the Johnson Space Center in real-time. Underwater communications equipment and cameras will link the aquanauts with NASA staff in Houston. A number of tasks performed inside Aquarius are designed to simulate functions performed during space missions.

Aquarius provides a remarkably similar environment to that found aboard the International Space Station (ISS). For example, its living compartment is similar in size to modules of the ISS; aquanauts coordinate operations remotely via a “Mission Control Center” located nine miles away in Key Largo; and tasks are conducted underwater using “space-walking” techniques that are under the guidance of the Mission Control Center. In addition, aquanauts remain isolated from the outside world for the duration of their mission because saturation diving requires a lengthy decompression procedure before surfacing is allowed.

The isolation, surrounded by an extreme environment, is important for studies related to behavior and physiology. In particular, the NASA Aquarius experience will be used to help develop communication techniques for crew and mission control personnel, and will provide leadership and interpersonal skills training to everyone involved. Findings from the mission will be used to help NASA planners shape future training programs.

As with each Aquarius mission, the October effort will consist of two UNCW live-aboard operations specialists, Mark Hulsbeck and Ryan Snow, and four astronaut specialists. The four specialists include mission commander Bill Todd, a senior simulation supervisor with United Space Alliance; shuttle astronaut and former commercial diver Mike Gernhardt; shuttle astronaut Mike Lopez-Alegria; and Canadian astronaut Dave Williams.

In addition to facilitating the NASA mission and other undersea research projects for universities from across the country, Aquarius conducts outreach events and operates live web cameras in and around the undersea laboratory.

Detailed information on Aquarius and each of its missions is available at: www.uncwil.edu/nurc/, or by contacting: Dr. Steven Miller, NURC/UNCW, Center Director: millers@uncwil.edu, 305-451-0233 or, Mark Ward, NURC Public Affairs: markeward@aol.com, 321-277-1789 (cell).