NEEMO
Encyclopedia
NEEMO, an acronym for NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations, is a NASA
program for studying human survival in the Aquarius
underwater
laboratory in preparation for future space exploration
.
Aquarius, an underwater habitat
located near Key Largo, Florida
, is owned by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA) and operated by the National Undersea Research Center (NURC) at the University of North Carolina–Wilmington
as a marine biology
study base. Located roughly 62 feet underwater, NASA has used it since 2001 for a series of missions, usually lasting 10 to 14 days, with research conducted by astronaut
s and other NASA employees. The crew members are called aquanaut
s instead of "divers", and they perform EVAs
in the underwater environment. Groups of NASA employees and contractors live in Aquarius for up to three weeks at a time. For NASA, Aquarius provides an environment similar to space living, and NEEMO crew members experience some of the same tasks and challenges underwater as they would in space.
NURC Support Crew:
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Aquarius Reef Base support crew:
Aquarius Reef Base support crew:
In DeepWorker submersible
:
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
program for studying human survival in the Aquarius
Aquarius (laboratory)
The NOAA Aquarius Reef Base is an underwater habitat located in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, adjacent to Conch Reef. It is one of the few underwater research facilities in the world dedicated to science...
underwater
Underwater
Underwater is a term describing the realm below the surface of water where the water exists in a natural feature such as an ocean, sea, lake, pond, or river. Three quarters of the planet Earth is covered by water...
laboratory in preparation for future space exploration
Space exploration
Space exploration is the use of space technology to explore outer space. Physical exploration of space is conducted both by human spaceflights and by robotic spacecraft....
.
Aquarius, an underwater habitat
Underwater habitat
Underwater habitats are underwater structures in which people can live for extended periods and carry out most of the basic human functions of a 24-hour day, such as working, resting, eating, attending to personal hygiene, and sleeping...
located near Key Largo, Florida
Key Largo, Florida
Key Largo is a census-designated place in Monroe County, Florida, United States, located on the island of Key Largo in the upper Florida Keys. The population was 11,886 at the 2000 census. The name comes from the Spanish Cayo Largo, or "long key"...
, is owned by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration , pronounced , like "noah", is a scientific agency within the United States Department of Commerce focused on the conditions of the oceans and the atmosphere...
(NOAA) and operated by the National Undersea Research Center (NURC) at the University of North Carolina–Wilmington
University of North Carolina at Wilmington
The University of North Carolina at Wilmington, sometimes referred to as UNC Wilmington, is a public, co-educational university located in Wilmington, North Carolina...
as a marine biology
Marine biology
Marine biology is the scientific study of organisms in the ocean or other marine or brackish bodies of water. Given that in biology many phyla, families and genera have some species that live in the sea and others that live on land, marine biology classifies species based on the environment rather...
study base. Located roughly 62 feet underwater, NASA has used it since 2001 for a series of missions, usually lasting 10 to 14 days, with research conducted by astronaut
Astronaut
An astronaut or cosmonaut is a person trained by a human spaceflight program to command, pilot, or serve as a crew member of a spacecraft....
s and other NASA employees. The crew members are called aquanaut
Aquanaut
An Aquanaut is any individual who remains underwater, exposed to the ambient pressure, long enough to come into equilibrium with his or her breathing media. Usually this is done in an underwater habitat on the seafloor for a period equal to or greater than 24 continuous hours without returning to...
s instead of "divers", and they perform EVAs
Extra-vehicular activity
Extra-vehicular activity is work done by an astronaut away from the Earth, and outside of a spacecraft. The term most commonly applies to an EVA made outside a craft orbiting Earth , but also applies to an EVA made on the surface of the Moon...
in the underwater environment. Groups of NASA employees and contractors live in Aquarius for up to three weeks at a time. For NASA, Aquarius provides an environment similar to space living, and NEEMO crew members experience some of the same tasks and challenges underwater as they would in space.
NEEMO 1: October 21-27, 2001
NASA Aquanaut Crew:- Bill ToddBill ToddBill Todd is Program Manager for Exploration Analogs at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. He has also served as a NASA Undersea Research Team Project Lead and Spaceflight Training Simulation Supervisor at NASA JSC...
, Commander - Michael Gernhardt
- Michael López-AlegríaMichael Lopez-AlegriaMichael Eladio "LA" López-Alegría b. May 30, 1958, is a Spanish-American astronaut; a veteran of three Space Shuttle missions and one International Space Station mission...
- Dafydd WilliamsDafydd WilliamsDafydd Rhys "Dave" Williams is a Canadian physician and a retired CSA astronaut. He had two spaceflights, both of which were Space Shuttle missions. His first spaceflight, STS-90 in 1998, was a 16-day mission aboard Space Shuttle Columbia dedicated to neuroscience research...
, CSA
NURC Support Crew:
- Mark Hulsbeck
- Ryan Snow
NEEMO 2: May 13-20, 2002
NASA Aquanaut Crew:- Michael FinckeEdward FinckeEdward Michael "Mike" Fincke is the American Astronaut with the most time in space .He was born on 14 March 1967 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, but considers its suburb Emsworth, Pennsylvania to be his hometown) is a United States Air Force officer and a NASA astronaut, who has served two tours...
, Commander - Daniel M. TaniDaniel M. TaniDaniel Tani is an American engineer and a NASA astronaut. Although born in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania, he considers Lombard, Illinois, to be his hometown...
- Sunita WilliamsSunita WilliamsSunita Williams is a United States Naval officer and a NASA astronaut. She was assigned to the International Space Station as a member of Expedition 14 and then joined Expedition 15...
- Marc ReaganMarc ReaganMarc Reagan is a Station Training Lead in Mission Operations at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. He leads a team of instructors who together are responsible for developing and executing complex simulations for International Space Station assembly and operations. Reagan also serves...
NURC Support Crew:
- Thor Dunmire
- Ryan Snow
NEEMO 3: July 15-21, 2002
NASA Aquanaut Crew:- Jeffrey Williams, Commander
- Gregory ChamitoffGregory ChamitoffGregory Errol Chamitoff is an engineer and NASA astronaut. He was assigned to Expedition 17 and flew to the International Space Station on STS-124, launching 31 May 2008. He was in space 198 days, joining Expedition 18 after Expedition 17 left the station, and returned to Earth 30 November 2008 on...
- John D. Olivas
- Jonathan DoryJonathan DoryJonathan R. Dory is a Human Systems Integration Lead at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. He is Branch Chief of NASA's Habitability and Human Factors Branch, part of the Habitability and Environmental Factors Division at NASA/JSC...
NURC Support Crew:
- Byron Croker
- Michael Smith
NEEMO 4: September 23-27, 2002
NASA Aquanaut Crew:- Scott Kelly, Commander
- Paul HillPaul Hill (Flight Director)Paul Sean Hill is the director of Mission Operations at the NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. He was formerly a Flight Director in the Mission Control Center for Space Shuttle and International Space Station missions....
- Rex Walheim
- Jessica MeirJessica MeirJessica Ulrika Meir is a post-doctoral researcher in comparative physiology with the Department of Zoology at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. She has a Ph.D. in marine biology from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography...
NURC Support Crew:
- James Talacek
- Ryan Snow
NEEMO 5: June 16-29, 2003
NASA Aquanaut Crew:- Peggy WhitsonPeggy WhitsonPeggy Annette Whitson is an American biochemistry researcher, NASA astronaut, and NASA's Chief Astronaut. Her first space mission was in 2002, with an extended stay aboard the International Space Station as a member of Expedition 5. Her second mission launched October 10, 2007, as the first female...
, Commander - Clayton AndersonClayton AndersonClayton Conrad Anderson is an American engineer and a NASA astronaut. Launched on STS-117, he replaced Sunita Williams on June 10, 2007 as a member of the ISS Expedition 15 crew.-Education:...
- Garrett ReismanGarrett ReismanGarrett Erin Reisman is an American engineer and former NASA astronaut. He was a backup crew member for Expedition 15 and joined Expedition 16 aboard the International Space Station for a short time before becoming a member of Expedition 17. He returned to Earth 14 June 2008 on board STS-124 on...
- Emma Hwang
NURC Support Crew:
- James Talacek
- Ryan Snow
NEEMO 6: July 12-21, 2003
NASA Aquanaut Crew:- John HerringtonJohn HerringtonJohn Bennett Herrington is an American business executive, former US Navy officer and former NASA astronaut. He is a veteran of one Space Shuttle mission. He is the first enrolled member of a Native American tribe to fly in space....
, Commander - Nicholas PatrickNicholas PatrickNicholas James MacDonald Patrick, Ph.D., is a British-born engineer and a NASA astronaut. His flight on the 2006 Discovery STS-116 mission made him the fifth Briton to go into space....
- Douglas H. WheelockDouglas H. WheelockDouglas Harry "Wheels" Wheelock is an American astronaut. He has flown in space twice logging 178 days on the Space Shuttle, International Space Station, and Russian Soyuz...
- Tara Ruttley
NURC Support Crew:
- Craig Cooper
- Joseph March
- Marc ReaganMarc ReaganMarc Reagan is a Station Training Lead in Mission Operations at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. He leads a team of instructors who together are responsible for developing and executing complex simulations for International Space Station assembly and operations. Reagan also serves...
, Mission Director
NEEMO 7: October 11-21, 2004
NASA Aquanaut Crew:- Robert ThirskRobert ThirskRobert Brent "Bob" Thirsk is a Canadian engineer and physician, and a former Canadian Space Agency astronaut. He holds the Canadian records for the longest space flight and the most time spent in space .-Personal life:Thirsk is from New Westminster, British Columbia and is married to Brenda...
, Commander - Catherine ColemanCatherine ColemanCatherine Grace "Cady" Coleman is an American chemist, a former United States Air Force officer, and a current NASA astronaut...
- Michael R. BarrattMichael R. BarrattMichael Reed Barratt is an American physician and a NASA astronaut. Specializing in aerospace medicine, Barratt served as a flight surgeon for NASA before his selection as an astronaut, and has played a role in developing NASA's space medicine programs for both the Shuttle-Mir Program and...
- Craig McKinleyCraig McKinley (physician)Craig Anthony McKinley, M.D., is a Canadian physician. He served as an aquanaut on the joint NASA-NOAA NEEMO 7 underwater exploration mission in October 2004. In April 2009, McKinley was arrested in North Bay, Ontario on assault charges. In May 2011 he was placed on probation for obstructing...
NURC Support Crew:
- James Talacek
- Billy Cooksey
- Bill ToddBill ToddBill Todd is Program Manager for Exploration Analogs at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. He has also served as a NASA Undersea Research Team Project Lead and Spaceflight Training Simulation Supervisor at NASA JSC...
, Mission Director
NEEMO 8: April 20-22, 2005
NASA Aquanaut Crew:- Michael Gernhardt, Commander
- John D. Olivas
- Scott Kelly
- Monika Schultz
NURC Support Crew:
- Craig Cooper
- Joseph March
- Bill ToddBill ToddBill Todd is Program Manager for Exploration Analogs at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. He has also served as a NASA Undersea Research Team Project Lead and Spaceflight Training Simulation Supervisor at NASA JSC...
, Mission Director
NEEMO 9: April 3-20, 2006
NASA Aquanaut Crew:- Dafydd WilliamsDafydd WilliamsDafydd Rhys "Dave" Williams is a Canadian physician and a retired CSA astronaut. He had two spaceflights, both of which were Space Shuttle missions. His first spaceflight, STS-90 in 1998, was a 16-day mission aboard Space Shuttle Columbia dedicated to neuroscience research...
, Commander - Nicole P. StottNicole P. StottNicole Marie Passonno Stott is an American engineer and a NASA astronaut. She served as a Flight Engineer on ISS Expedition 20 and Expedition 21 and was a Mission Specialist on STS-128. In 2011, She flew a second time as a Mission Specialist on STS-133....
- Ronald J. Garan, Jr.Ronald J. Garan, Jr.Ronald John Garan, Jr. is a NASA astronaut. After graduating from State University of New York College at Oneonta in 1982, he joined the Air Force, becoming a Second Lieutenant in 1984. He became an F-16 pilot, and flew combat missions in Desert Shield and Desert Storm...
- Timothy J. BroderickTimothy J. BroderickTimothy J. Broderick, M.D., F.A.C.S., is Professor of Surgery and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Cincinnati, where he has served on the faculty since 2003. He also serves as Chief of the Division of Gastrointestinal and Endocrine Surgery and is Director of the Advanced Center for...
, M.D.
NURC Support Crew:
- Jim Buckley
- Ross Hein
- Marc ReaganMarc ReaganMarc Reagan is a Station Training Lead in Mission Operations at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. He leads a team of instructors who together are responsible for developing and executing complex simulations for International Space Station assembly and operations. Reagan also serves...
, Mission Director
NEEMO 10: July 22-28, 2006
NASA Aquanaut Crew:- Koichi WakataKoichi Wakatais a Japanese engineer and a JAXA astronaut. Wakata is a veteran of four NASA Space Shuttle missions and a long-duration stay on the International Space Station. During a nearly two decade career in spaceflight he has logged five months in space. Wakata is currently assigned to the Soyuz...
, Commander - Andrew Feustel
- Karen L. NybergKaren L. NybergKaren LuJean Nyberg is an American mechanical engineer and NASA astronaut. Nyberg was the 50th woman in space.-Personal:...
- Karen Kohanowich
NURC Support Crew:
- Mark Hulsbeck
- Dominic Landucci
- Marc ReaganMarc ReaganMarc Reagan is a Station Training Lead in Mission Operations at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. He leads a team of instructors who together are responsible for developing and executing complex simulations for International Space Station assembly and operations. Reagan also serves...
, Mission Director
NEEMO 11: September 16-22, 2006
NASA Aquanaut Crew:- Sandra MagnusSandra MagnusSandra Hall Magnus is an American engineer and a NASA astronaut. She returned to Earth with the crew of STS-119 Discovery on March 28, 2009, after having spent 134 days in orbit. She was assigned to the crew of STS-135, the final mission of the Space Shuttle...
, Commander - Timothy Kopra
- Robert L. BehnkenRobert L. BehnkenRobert Louis "Bob" Behnken is an engineer, U. S. Air Force officer and a NASA astronaut. Behnken holds a Ph.D in Mechanical Engineering and has reached the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Air Force. Bob Behnken has logged over 1000 flight hours in 25 different aircraft. He flew on Space...
- Timothy CreamerTimothy CreamerTimothy "TJ" Creamer is a NASA astronaut and a Colonel in the United States Army. Creamer was born in Fort Huachuca, Arizona, but considers Upper Marlboro, Maryland, to be his hometown. He is married to the former Margaret E. Hammer. They have two children.- Education :Bishop McNamara High School,...
NURC Support Crew:
- Larry Ward
- Roger Garcia
- Marc ReaganMarc ReaganMarc Reagan is a Station Training Lead in Mission Operations at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. He leads a team of instructors who together are responsible for developing and executing complex simulations for International Space Station assembly and operations. Reagan also serves...
, Mission Director
NEEMO 12: May 7-18, 2007
NASA Aquanaut Crew:- Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper, Commander
- José M. HernándezJose Hernandez (astronaut)José Moreno Hernández , is an American engineer and a former NASA astronaut.Hernández was born in French Camp, California, but calls Stockton, California, his hometown. His family is from La Piedad, Michoacán, with indigenous Purépecha roots...
- Josef SchmidJosef Schmid (flight surgeon)Josef F. "Joe" Schmid, M.D., MPH is a NASA flight surgeon and a colonel in the United States Air Force Reserves. He served as an aquanaut on the joint NASA-NOAA NEEMO 12 underwater exploration mission in May 2007.- Education :...
, M.D. - Timothy J. BroderickTimothy J. BroderickTimothy J. Broderick, M.D., F.A.C.S., is Professor of Surgery and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Cincinnati, where he has served on the faculty since 2003. He also serves as Chief of the Division of Gastrointestinal and Endocrine Surgery and is Director of the Advanced Center for...
, M.D.
NURC Support Crew:
- Dominic Landucci
- James Talacek
- Marc ReaganMarc ReaganMarc Reagan is a Station Training Lead in Mission Operations at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. He leads a team of instructors who together are responsible for developing and executing complex simulations for International Space Station assembly and operations. Reagan also serves...
, Mission Director
NEEMO 13: August 6-15, 2007
NASA Aquanaut Crew:- Nicholas PatrickNicholas PatrickNicholas James MacDonald Patrick, Ph.D., is a British-born engineer and a NASA astronaut. His flight on the 2006 Discovery STS-116 mission made him the fifth Briton to go into space....
, Commander - Richard R. ArnoldRichard R. ArnoldRichard Robert "Ricky" Arnold II is an American educator and a NASA astronaut. He flew on Space Shuttle mission STS-119, which launched March 15, 2009 and delivered the final set of solar arrays to the International Space Station.Arnold was raised in Bowie, Maryland and is married to Eloise...
- Satoshi FurukawaSatoshi Furukawais a Japanese surgeon and a JAXA astronaut.-Personal:Furukawa was born in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. He enjoys baseball, bowling, music and traveling...
- Christopher E. GertyChristopher E. GertyChristopher E. Gerty is an American aerospace engineer who worked on NASA's Constellation Program. Gerty is an advocate of NASA’s Open Government Initiative and is a leading voice on the concept of participatory exploration and collaboration. He has fifteen years of experience working on...
NURC Support Crew:
- Jim Buckley
- Larry Ward
- Marc ReaganMarc ReaganMarc Reagan is a Station Training Lead in Mission Operations at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. He leads a team of instructors who together are responsible for developing and executing complex simulations for International Space Station assembly and operations. Reagan also serves...
, Mission Director
NEEMO 14: May 10-23, 2010
NASA Aquanaut Crew:- Chris HadfieldChris HadfieldChris Austin "Chris" Hadfield, O.Ont, MSC, CD is a Canadian astronaut from the Canadian Space Agency who was the first Canadian to walk in space. Hadfield has flown two space shuttle missions, STS-74 in 1995 and STS-100 in 2001. He has served as CAPCOM for both Space Shuttle and International...
, Commander - Thomas H. Marshburn
- Andrew AbercrombyAndrew AbercrombyAndrew F. J. Abercromby is a biomedical engineer working on the design and testing of spacesuit systems and rovers for future exploration of the solar system. He works for Wyle Integrated Science & Engineering at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas...
- Steve ChappellSteve ChappellSteven P. Chappell, Ph.D., is an American aerospace engineer. He is a Technical Lead & Research Specialist for Wyle Integrated Science & Engineering at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. He is helping to define and execute the research needed to optimize human performance in...
Aquarius Reef Base support crew:
- James Talacek
- Nate Bender
- Bill ToddBill ToddBill Todd is Program Manager for Exploration Analogs at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. He has also served as a NASA Undersea Research Team Project Lead and Spaceflight Training Simulation Supervisor at NASA JSC...
, Mission Director
NEEMO 15: October 20-26, 2011
NASA Aquanaut Crew:- Shannon WalkerShannon WalkerShannon Walker is an American scientist and a NASA astronaut, whose first space mission was Expedition 24 on the International Space Station with take-off on 15 June 2010. She is married to a fellow NASA astronaut, the Australian-born Andy Thomas...
, Commander - Takuya OnishiTakuya Onishiis a Japanese astronaut from JAXA, who was selected in 2009.Onishi was born in Nerima, Tokyo, Japan. He graduated from Seiko High School in Yokohama in 1994 and received a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Aeronautical and Space Engineering from the University of Tokyo in 1998...
- David Saint-JacquesDavid Saint-JacquesDavid Saint-Jacques is a Canadian astronaut with the Canadian Space Agency . He was selected to join the CSA in the 2009 CSA selection along with Jeremy Hansen....
- Steve SquyresSteve SquyresSteven W. Squyres is the Goldwin Smith Professor of Astronomy at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. His research area is in planetary sciences, with a focus on large solid bodies in the solar system such as the terrestrial planets and the moons of the Jovian planets. Squyres is principal...
Aquarius Reef Base support crew:
- James Talacek
- Nate Bender
In DeepWorker submersible
Submersible
A submersible is a small vehicle designed to operate underwater. The term submersible is often used to differentiate from other underwater vehicles known as submarines, in that a submarine is a fully autonomous craft, capable of renewing its own power and breathing air, whereas a submersible is...
:
- Stanley G. LoveStanley G. LoveDr. Stanley G. Love, PH.D. is an American scientist and a NASA astronaut.-Early Life:Stanley G. Love was born on June 8, 1965 to Glen A. Love and Rhoda M. Love in San Diego, California. However, Love has stated he considers Eugene, Oregon to be his hometown. Love graduated from Winston Churchill...
- Richard R. ArnoldRichard R. ArnoldRichard Robert "Ricky" Arnold II is an American educator and a NASA astronaut. He flew on Space Shuttle mission STS-119, which launched March 15, 2009 and delivered the final set of solar arrays to the International Space Station.Arnold was raised in Bowie, Maryland and is married to Eloise...
- Michael L. GernhardtMichael L. GernhardtMichael Landon Gernhardt is a NASA astronaut and manager of Environmental Physiology Laboratory and principal investigator of the Prebreathe Reduction Program at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center....