Longueuil, Quebec, May 4, 2010 - Canadian Space Agency Astronaut Chris Hadfield will lead the next NASA Undersea Mission as commander of the crew of NEEMO 14 from May 10 to 23, 2010 to test exploration concepts in an undersea environment off the Florida coast.
During the NEEMO 14 mission (NASA Extreme Environment Mission Objectives), a multi-disciplinary team will take part in a 13-day undersea mission aboard the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) underwater facility Aquarius. Joining Chris Hadfield will be NASA astronaut Dr. Tom Marshburn, Dr. Steve Chappell, a research scientist, and Lunar Electric Rover deputy project manager Andrew Abercromby.
This will be the 14th NEEMO expedition since its first mission back in October 2001. Canadian astronauts Robert Thirsk and Dave Williams have participated in NEEMO 7 (2004) and NEEMO 9 (2006) respectively.
NEEMO 14 will use the ocean floor to simulate exploration missions to the surface of asteroids, moons and Mars. The mission is designed to gain a better understanding of how astronaut crews interact with equipment including advanced spacesuits, a lander, a rover and robotic arms. The crew will live aboard Aquarius venturing from it on simulated spacewalks, operating the robotic arm and manoeuvring the vehicles much like would be done when setting up a habitat on another planet.
"The extreme conditions of an underwater mission are similar to those of space," said astronaut Hadfield. "Space exploration presents many challenges which can, in some way, be reproduced by using analog tests sites such as this underwater habitat."
While inside the Aquarius laboratory, the crew will also perform life sciences experiments focused on human behavior, performance and physiology in extreme and isolated environments. Additionally, the mission includes a study of autonomous crew work. This will include periods of time when there is limited communication between the crew and the mission control center, much like what could happen during deep space missions.
Aquarius is located 20 meters below surface, 4.5 km off Key Largo in the Florida Keys.
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For more information:
Canadian Space Agency
Media Relations Office
Tel.: 450-926-4370
www.asc-csa.gc.ca
