NEEMO Undersea Aquanauts Start 16-Day Space Simulation

by Selena Sherwood

NASA's Extreme Environment Misson Operations (NEEMO) team of former and soon to be astronauts plunged 62 feet below the Atlantic. Last week the crew boarded the Aquarius Reef Lab and treked down to the of the sea to begin research in anb environment similar to working to outer space to prepare them for for future missions to Mars, astroids, and future to space. They'll be sequencing DNA, simulating space walks, and a telemedicine device for future missions. Both success and failure are welcome here so technology can advance before an actual trip to Mars is launched (the soonest one set for lift off in 2020). In addition to doing space research, they will be taking samples for marine biologists and geologists from the very bottom of the sea. They'll be testing a new hand held DNA sequencer that could help shed some light on alien lifeforms that could be out there somewhere, whether it be down on the bottom of the ocean or in a far out galaxy. For more information on their exploration and findings, pictures, video, and to learn about the aquanauts on board, go to NASA's NEEMO Misson page or @NASA_NEEMO on twitter!

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