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                       Astronauts Train in Underwater Lab

   by George Putic

   In the world's only underwater laboratory, located 19 meters beneath
   the surface, some five kilometers off Key Largo, four U.S. astronauts
   prepare to visit an asteroid.

   Living in close quarters and making excursions only into the
   surrounding ocean waters, the four astronauts simulate the daily
   routine of a crew that would someday travel to collect samples from
   rocks orbiting the earth.

   Part of NASA's Extreme Environment Mission Operations (NEEMO) program,
   which is designed to test concepts related to future visits to
   near-Earth asteroids, the team is spending nine days within the
   37-square-meter lab called Aquarius, which is operated by Florida
   International University.

   By conducting experiments and testing equipment and procedures,
   Astronaut Janette Epps says the group is recreating as close as
   possible the expected deep space mission.

   "Commander Aki and I, we had to get ready to go out to do one of the
   mock spacewalks that we do underwater, and that took a little bit of
   time to get up and running because we had a few issues with
   communication in our helmets so that we can be able to talk to the crew
   inside the habitat and the topside," said Epps, explaining that she and
   her colleagues often encounter real-life problems.

   Living about 60 beneath the surface means they do not have to
   decompress each time they venture out of Aquarius, and can conduct
   longer dives.

   While inside the lab, they conduct science experiments focused on human
   health and behavior.

   "We're all wearing badges that track, together with other parameters,
   our proximity or social interaction, for understanding better which
   reactions people have in such close environments to apply this
   knowledge for future exploration missions," said astronaut Thomas
   Pesquet.

   And the cosmic quartet isn't alone. Two "aquanauts," technicians with
   extensive knowledge and experience in the undersea lab, are also on
   board. They take care that all on-board systems function properly,
   including the mock spacesuits.

   Mission commander and Japanese astronaut Akihiko Hoshide says they know
   everything about the facility.

   "They are the people behind the scenes," he said. "We just do the
   mission but without their help we can't do anything."

   Project NEEMO is one of NASA's so-called "analog missions," whose goal
   is to train astronauts for the extreme environments they may encounter
   during future space explorations.
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References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/astronauts-train-in-underwater-lab/1965437.html