Neutral Buoyancy Space Simulator
Encyclopedia
The Neutral Buoyancy Space Simulator is located in Building 4705 at the George C. Marshall Space Flight Center
in Huntsville
, Alabama
, in the United States
. It was designed by the U.S. Army
in 1955 to provide a zero-gravity space simulator in which engineer
s, designers and astronaut
s could perform for extended periods of time in simulated environment of outer space
. Due to its capability to support research and testing of operational techniques and materials needed to successfully perform manned missions, the Neutral Buoyancy Simulator contributed significantly to the American manned space program. Project Gemini
, the Apollo program, Skylab
and the Space Shuttle
have all benefited from the Neutral Buoyancy Simulator. Until the mid-1970s, when an additional facility (the Weightless Environment Training Facility, and later, the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory
) was constructed at the Johnson Space Center to support the Space Shuttle Program, this facility was the only test facility that allowed astronauts to become familiar with the dynamics of body motion under weightless conditions.
Within the heart of the simulator is a large water tank
, 75 feet (23 m) in diameter and 40 feet (12 m) deep. The water within the simulator is temperature control
led, continuously recirculated and filtered. Special systems are integrated into the tank for underwater audio and video, pressure-suit environmental control and emergency rescue and treatment. Life support is simultaneously provided by these systems for up to four pressure-suited subjects. Additional systems include data acquisition and recording, underwater lighting, special underwater pneumatic
and electrical power operations of motor, valves, controls, and indicators that are required for high fidelity and functional engineering mockups and trainers.
It was declared a National Historic Landmark
in 1985.
Marshall Space Flight Center
The George C. Marshall Space Flight Center is the U.S. government's civilian rocketry and spacecraft propulsion research center. The largest center of NASA, MSFC's first mission was developing the Saturn launch vehicles for the Apollo moon program...
in Huntsville
Huntsville, Alabama
Huntsville is a city located primarily in Madison County in the central part of the far northern region of the U.S. state of Alabama. Huntsville is the county seat of Madison County. The city extends west into neighboring Limestone County. Huntsville's population was 180,105 as of the 2010 Census....
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It was designed by the U.S. Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
in 1955 to provide a zero-gravity space simulator in which engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
s, designers and 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 could perform for extended periods of time in simulated environment of outer space
Outer space
Outer space is the void that exists between celestial bodies, including the Earth. It is not completely empty, but consists of a hard vacuum containing a low density of particles: predominantly a plasma of hydrogen and helium, as well as electromagnetic radiation, magnetic fields, and neutrinos....
. Due to its capability to support research and testing of operational techniques and materials needed to successfully perform manned missions, the Neutral Buoyancy Simulator contributed significantly to the American manned space program. Project Gemini
Project Gemini
Project Gemini was the second human spaceflight program of NASA, the civilian space agency of the United States government. Project Gemini was conducted between projects Mercury and Apollo, with ten manned flights occurring in 1965 and 1966....
, the Apollo program, Skylab
Skylab
Skylab was a space station launched and operated by NASA, the space agency of the United States. Skylab orbited the Earth from 1973 to 1979, and included a workshop, a solar observatory, and other systems. It was launched unmanned by a modified Saturn V rocket, with a mass of...
and the Space Shuttle
Space Shuttle
The Space Shuttle was a manned orbital rocket and spacecraft system operated by NASA on 135 missions from 1981 to 2011. The system combined rocket launch, orbital spacecraft, and re-entry spaceplane with modular add-ons...
have all benefited from the Neutral Buoyancy Simulator. Until the mid-1970s, when an additional facility (the Weightless Environment Training Facility, and later, the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory
Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory
The Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory is an astronaut training facility maintained by and located at the Sonny Carter Training Facility on NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. The NBL consists of a large indoor pool of water, the largest in the world, in which astronauts may perform simulated...
) was constructed at the Johnson Space Center to support the Space Shuttle Program, this facility was the only test facility that allowed astronauts to become familiar with the dynamics of body motion under weightless conditions.
Within the heart of the simulator is a large water tank
Water tank
A Water tank is a container for storing water. The need for a water tank is as old as civilized man, providing storage of water for drinking water, irrigation agriculture, fire suppression, agricultural farming, both for plants and livestock, chemical manufacturing, food preparation as well as many...
, 75 feet (23 m) in diameter and 40 feet (12 m) deep. The water within the simulator is temperature control
Temperature control
Temperature control is a process in which change of temperature of a space is measured or otherwise detected, and the passage of heat energy into or out of the space is adjusted to achieve a desired average temperature....
led, continuously recirculated and filtered. Special systems are integrated into the tank for underwater audio and video, pressure-suit environmental control and emergency rescue and treatment. Life support is simultaneously provided by these systems for up to four pressure-suited subjects. Additional systems include data acquisition and recording, underwater lighting, special underwater pneumatic
Pneumatics
Pneumatics is a branch of technology, which deals with the study and application of use of pressurized gas to effect mechanical motion.Pneumatic systems are extensively used in industry, where factories are commonly plumbed with compressed air or compressed inert gases...
and electrical power operations of motor, valves, controls, and indicators that are required for high fidelity and functional engineering mockups and trainers.
It was declared a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in 1985.