To Be Continued ...
"There is no escaping our obligations: our moral obligations as a wise leader and good neighbor in the interdependent community of free nations..." – John F. Kennedy, Nov. 3, 1961 in establishing the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) I have often expressed the strong belief that the technology ...Read More
One Young World Summit - The Key Is We
Witnessing more than 1,000 young people from 200 countries building the foundation for the legacy of their generation is a remarkable experience I won’t soon forget. These young people were delegates to the 2012 One Young World Summit, which helped them make the lasting connections that produce the cooperation and ...Read More
Why Should We Spend Money on Space Exploration When We Have So Many Problems Here on Earth?
I’m asked all the time, “Why should we spend money on space exploration when we have so many problems here on planet Earth?” Two-Way Technology Transfer During the past 50 years we frequently heard about the many amazing spinoffs from the human spaceflight program - everything from personal computers to ...Read More
Guardians of Earth
Next week, the international forum uniting generations, "The Guardians of Earth," is bringing together high school students ages 14-17 from around the world to share their ideas for protecting Earth with astronauts, cosmonauts, scholars and each other. This is another example of why you don’t have to be in orbit ...Read More
Do 1 Thing Day - July 20, 2012
What are you doing on Friday, July 20, 2012? On behalf of the Fragile Oasis team, I invite you to roll up your sleeves and Do 1 Thing to make life better on this planet we call home. July 20th is a special day in the history of humankind. We ...Read More
The Orbital Perspective of Nicholas Kristof
Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Nicholas Kristof was in in the thick of things during the chaotic days of August 2011 that resulted in the Fall of Tripoli. He stood in Libya’s capital city reporting on events as they unfolded. Nick Kristof in Tripoli, Libya August 23, 2011 At the same ...Read More
An Invitation to Participate in the International Space Apps Challenge
Yuri Gagarin was 27 years old when he left the protective atmosphere of Earth, and then returned 108 minutes later with the perspective nearly all of us privileged to follow him would come to understand: “Orbiting Earth in the spaceship, I saw how beautiful our planet is. People, let us ...Read More
LAUNCHing Ideas for a Waste-less Tomorrow
As a participant of the first LAUNCH forum, LAUNCH: Water, and someone who recently returned from six months experiencing the orbital perspective of our planet from 240 miles above the Earth, I invite innovators from around the world to participate in LAUNCH: Beyond Waste. LAUNCH, a social entrepreneurship forum, is ...Read More
We Get to Carry Each Other
Watching a video of U2’s “One” featuring Mary J. Blige this weekend brought me back to the launchpad at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan waiting for the countdown and my launch to space – and inspired me to write this post. Just before entering the Soyuz on April 4, 2011 ...Read More
The Collaboration Project
This weekend, NASA, Google, Microsoft, Yahoo!, HP and the World Bank, through their Random Hacks of Kindness (RHoK) initiative, will bring together thousands of people in over 31 locations around the globe to “hack for humanity”. Random Hacks of Kindness is a community of innovation that brings together subject matter ...Read More
Coming Back Down To Our Fragile Oasis
Saying goodbye to our friends and our home on the International Space Station was bittersweet after nearly six months in space. Although Andrey Borisenko, Alexander Samokutyaev and I were eager to return to our beautiful Earth, we wanted to savor our last moments as we took a couple of laps ...Read More
A Tale of Two Homecomings - Part 2
Last week, Andrey Borisenko, Sasha Samokutyaev and I were given a wonderful welcome at the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, just outside of Moscow. Our day began with an official debriefing of our mission to the International Space Station that began with a launch aboard a Soyuz ...Read More
A Tale of Two Homecomings - Part 1
I just arrived back in Star City Russia after two and a half weeks home in Houston. At the end of the trip from Kazakhstan to Houston, I was greeted by a wonderful welcome home from friends and neighbors in Nassau Bay, Texas. As we crossed into the city of ...Read More
Plunging Over Niagara Falls In A Burning Barrel. And More.
About two weeks before my return to Earth, I had a videoconference from the International Space Station with astronaut Scott Kelly who told me about his experience plunging over Niagara Falls in a burning barrel six months before. He was actually describing what his own ride home from the ISS ...Read More
The Story of the Birds and the Bees - Goodbye to Space
This post is about real birds and real bees (sort of). On St. Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2011, I left Houston for Star City, Russia via Frankfurt and Moscow, and the start of my journey to space. As I sat at the airport, I wrote the blog post, "IAH Gate ...Read More
Cupola Corner 6 - Conversation With Mike Fossum
Welcome to Cupola Corner Episode 6 - My conversation with Expedition 28 crewmate Mike Fossum, that actually began just about one hundred days ago when he arrived on the International Space Station looking for coffee. "Don't leave me Ron!..." -- Mike FossumRead More
Cupola Corner 5 - Conversation With Satoshi Furukawa
Welcome to Cupola Corner Episode 5 - A conversation with Expedition 28 and 29 crewmember Satoshi Furukawa about how we can use the view from the International Space Station to inspire people to make a difference, and to make life better on our planet. "When I first looked out the ...Read More
September 11, 2001 Remembered September 11, 2011
During this morning's flyover of New York City, the Expedition 28 crew of Commander Andrey Borisenko, Alexander Samokutyaev, Mike Fossum, Satoshi Furukawa, Sergei Volkov and myself, Ron Garan, stood in silent tribute to those who were lost on September 11, 2001. New York City Under the Clouds Sunday, September 11, ...Read More
Cupola Corner 4 - Conversation With Sergei Volkov
Dobro Pozhalovat Cupola Corner Welcome to Cupola Corner Episode 4 - A conversation with Expedition 28 and 29 crewmember Sergei Volkov about how we can use the view from the International Space Station to inspire people to make a difference, and to make life better on our planet. "You can ...Read More
Cupola Corner 3 - Conversation With Andrey Borisenko
Dobro Pozhalovat Cupola Corner Welcome to Cupola Corner Episode 3 - A conversation with Space Station Commander Andrey Borisenko about how we can use the view from here to inspire people to make a difference and to make life better on our planet. "The more people who can observe our ...Read More
Cupola Corner 2 - Conversation With Alexander Samokutyaev
Dobro Pozhalovat Cupola Corner Welcome to Cupola Corner Episode 2 - A conversation with Soyuz Commander Sasha Samokutyaev about how we can use the view from here on the International Space Station to inspire people to make a difference and to make life better on our planet. "I wish all ...Read More
Borders From Space
I have always said, “you can’t see any borders from space.” Apparently I was wrong. On the evening of August 17, 2011, I “flew” to the Cupola, the windowed observatory of the International Space Station, to shoot some photographs for a time-lapse photography project I have been working on for ...Read More
The Fruits of Labor - From Earth to Space
I want to take a moment to thank everyone who has submitted a project to the Fragile Oasis community. The vision for Fragile Oasis is for it to become a vehicle to effect real change. We want to provide a means for people and organizations to collaborate and develop synergy ...Read More
With Apologies to Guitar Players & Music Lovers Everywhere
Last weekend Sasha, Andrey and I received word that our return to Earth from the International Space Station would be delayed. It was possible that our scheduled September 8th landing would move to October 29th. The delay, regardless of length, was due to a failure during the launch of an ...Read More
Sneak Peek From Space
A 52 second rough cut of what we are working on from Space for Fragile Oasis. What do you think? With our thanks to musician and pioneering advocate for human rights, Peter Gabriel "Did you think that your feet had been bound By what gravity brings to the ground? Did ...Read More
The Moon Over Afghanistan
The thin blue line of Earth's atmosphere and a low sun painting the clouds red as the half moon sets over Afghanistan on August 22, 2011 – one of sixteen moonsets we see each day from the International Space Station.Read More
Music From Your Space Station
Listening to beautiful music while orbiting our beautiful fragile oasis at 17,500 miles per hour is a wonderfully surreal experience.Read More
Sunrise From Space
Editor's Note: On Saturday, August 27, 2011, Ron will point his camera out one of the six trapezoidal side windows of the Space Station Cupola to film one of the sixteen sunrises he sees each day. Which sunrise and which window is up to YOU.Read More
San Francisco Stopover
Peter Frampton: Thanks to my dear friend and amazing guitar player, Davy Knowles, I was introduced to Astronaut Ron Garan presently on the International Space Station.Read More
Turning the Page to the Next Chapter of Human Spaceflight - Part 5
As I was ready to leave Atlantis’ payload bay, I knew that it was the last time anyone would do this. Emotion hit as I thought about the thousands of people who have designed, built, maintained, managed and loved these amazing flying machines. Read More
Turning the Page to the Next Chapter of Human Spaceflight - Part 4
I remember during my first mission looking down at the Earth and marveling at a beautiful spot, and wondering where we were. This time it seemed that every time I looked down I knew where we were. Read More
Turning the Page to the Next Chapter of Human Spaceflight - Part 3
The International Space Station is an important part of the Space Shuttle program legacy. It is a shining example of international cooperation, and a stepping-stone to human exploration beyond low earth orbit. Significantly, it will help improve life on Earth through the research being conducted onboard.Read More
Turning the Page to the Next Chapter of Human Spaceflight - Part 2
The end of the Space Shuttle program is a bittersweet moment in time. In its wake, a magnificent legacy, and hopefully the beginning of an era that will see humanity explore space beyond Earth orbit.Read More
Turning the Page to the Next Chapter of Human Spaceflight - Part 1
Imagine a moving truck with 5 tons of supplies and equipment pulling up to your front door, then attaching itself to your house. Read More
That's One Small Step for Fragile Oasis...
On July 20th 1969, at the age of seven, I attended my great-grandparents’ 50th wedding anniversary celebration in a banquet hall in Yonkers, NY. My great-grandparents emigrated from Russia to America many years earlier. Late in the evening (late for a seven-year old boy), all the guests gathered around a black and white TV and watched as Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin made the first footprints on the Moon.Read More
STS-135 Spacewalk Wrap-up
Mike Fossum and I were working outside the International Space Station on July 12; STS-135 Mission Specialist Rex Walheim choreographed our space-walk from the inside. We talked about the Spacewalk and our Fragile Oasis, the day before he and the rest of the STS-135 crew left the Space Station aboard ...Read More
Cupola Corner 1 - Conversation With Chris Ferguson
Atlantis Commander Chris Ferguson joined me in the International Space Station cupola for some conversation about the space shuttle, and how we can communicate what we see from space in a way that will inspire people to make a difference.Read More
The Stuff of Life - A TED Talk From Space
TED exclusive video: US astronaut Ron Garan is currently on board the International Space Station with five colleagues from the US, Russia and Europe. (This is Garan's second trip to the ISS.) For TEDGlobal, he recorded a talk sharing the perspective from space and describing the wide range of scientific ...Read More
In the Spirit of Yuri's Night - Thank you #FromSpace
I accept this (Spirit of Yuri's Night) award on behalf of everyone who is striving to use space exploration to contribute to the future of humanity on earth and in space, and the people involved with our efforts at Fragile Oasis to use the orbital perspective to help inspire people to make a positive difference on our planet.Read More
The Fragile Oasis Community Making A Difference
I want to encourage everyone to join the Fragile Oasis community of people and organizations that are improving our Fragile Oasis. By becoming part of the Fragile Oasis community, you are acknowledging that you desire to make a positive impact on our world and that you wish to leave it a little better than you found it.Read More
A Hometown Hello from the International Space Station
Ron Garan and Mike Fossum enjoyed these back-to-back interviews with Good Day New York and KWTX-TV in Waco Texas where it is 100 degrees in the shade right now. Read More
We're Getting The Band Back Together
"I launched in a Russian rocket, travelled a million miles, and you give me a bag of instant coffee?" -- Mike Fossum to Ron GaranRead More
We Are Not Alone
Good morning from the International Space Station, where the day begins with Science.Read More
Three Ships Pass In The Night - Part IV - My First Video Blog
After Endeavour undocked and fired its engines to pull away from the Space Station, the crews used flashlights to communicate in Morse Code.Read More
Three Ships Pass In The Night - Part III
You really have a sense here as you look down at our planet hanging in the blackness of space that we all on this together; riding on this beautiful, fragile oasis through the universe.Read More
Three Ships Pass In The Night - Part II
Things are back to normal after the departure of the Space Shuttle and the crew of STS-134, so I have a little time to tell the story of Endeavour’s visit in a series of recollections.Read More
Three Ships Pass In The Night - Part I
I am enjoying some time off after an incredibly busy two weeks. Since my last post, the Space Shuttle Endeavour docked, and then undocked after a very successful sixteen-day mission. Read More
Beginnings and Endings: Lots in Between
It is wonderful to be able to connect with projects and people that are making the world a better place, and being able to fly over these areas and see them from this incredible vantage point. All of us on our planet are connected through our shared humanity – even those of us living in space. Read More
The 3rd Rock from the Sun is a Fragile Oasis
by Ron Garan The focus of Fragile Oasis is not on the problems of the world, but on how the problems of the world are being solved by amazing people. Fragile Oasis is dedicated to improving life on our planet, and highlighting those people and organizations making a difference. It ...Read More
Happy Easter From the International Space Station
My Easter prayer is that all the inhabitants of our Fragile Oasis come to the realization that we are in this together; that we are all riding together through the universe on this spaceship we call Earth; that love and understanding can conquer all, and that nothing is impossible if we overcome our differences, and then work together to solve the problems facing our world.Read More
Saturday Morning in Space
There something very inspiring about strapping yourself to the bench to do a set of bench press while right in front of you, in the big center window of the cupola, Australia is floating by. Read More
Our New Home
Arrival to the International Space Station was like something out of '2001 Space Odyssey!' On the day of our rendezvous with the Space Station, Alexander (Sasha), Andrey and I changed back into our spacesuits, took our respective places in our Soyuz Descent Module and closed the hatch to the Habitation ...Read More
My First Blog Post From Space
About 10 seconds before the planned liftoff we could hear and feel the engines start. When the clock hit zero, we could feel ourselves being propelled upward. In recognition of the 50th anniversary of the launch of the first human to space, Soyuz Commander Alexander Samokutyaev calmly said, "In the words of Yuri Gararin, Поехали." (We’re off.). I, on the other hand, let loose with a spontaneous “Woo Hoo!”Read More
Last Blog Post On Earth - For A While
There is no doubt in my mind that the world is a safer and more peaceful place today than it would be otherwise if it we had not taken that first step into space. Even at the height of the Cold War, Russia and the U.S. still somehow found a way to cooperate during the Apollo-Soyuz program which accomplished the first docking of US and Russian spacecraft.Read More
Reporting Live From The Baikonur Cosmodrome
We all have proven that by working together we can accomplish amazing things including constructing in orbit the most complex structure ever built, the International Space Station. If we can do that in space, imagine what we can do working together to solve the challenges facing our planet!Read More
Pre-Flight Traditions
Whenever we end up arriving in Baikonur, I’m really looking forward to being in that place, so close to the 50th anniversary of the first human space flight, and where so much space history was made.Read More
Final Flight Readiness Examinations
I would like to start this post out with an apology. It has been almost a month since I last updated everyone here on Fragile Oasis. I will try harder to keep everyone updated more frequently as our launch draws closer and even after we are on orbit. These past ...Read More
IAH Gate E7: 1st Leg on the Journey to Space
Here I sit in the airport in Houston getting ready to start my journey to space. First I will fly to Frankfurt for the rest of the week to finish my last training at the European Astronaut Center. I will have refresher training on the Columbus Laboratory, the Automated Transfer ...Read More
Happy New Year From the Home Stretch
Happy New Year, Everyone! The start of the New Year brings me into the home stretch of my 2 ½ year road to the launch pad. January will be my last full month in Houston before leaving for 1 week in Germany, 5 weeks in Russia, 2 weeks in Kazakhstan, ...Read More
Building Better Computers With Tears of Wine
Tears of wine form because alcohol has a lower surface tension than water.Read More
Happy Columbus Day: A Day to Celebrate Explorers Past & Present-The Launch of Expedition 25
Photo by Victor Zelentsov, NASA Here I sit at the airport in Moscow reflecting on the amazing events of the last two weeks and excited that after two months on the road (Germany, Russia & Kazakhstan), I'm heading home! In a strange coincidence, I should land in Houston at the ...Read More
Reporting from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on the 53rd Anniversary of Sputnik, the 1st Object Launched into Space
Fifty three years ago today humanity was forever changed when our first few steps to extend human presence beyond our world were made. It is an incredible experience to be in that place where the first object Sputnik, and the first human Yuri Gagarin were launched into space. The Expedition ...Read More
Pre-Flight Preparation & Tradition: On the Road to Baikonur
Last week was an interesting week to say the least. The week started off with final flight readiness exams for the primary and backup crews of Expedition 25. On the first day, the primary crew of Scott Kelly, Alexander Kaleri, and Oleg Skripochka had a full day-long exam in a ...Read More
Honoring 50 Years of Human Space Flight: Introducing The Expedition 28 Mission Patch
It is great honor to introduce the newly approved Expedition 28 mission patch. Our patch has a very special significance to us because through the design we are able to celebrate 50 years of human spaceflight. In the foreground of the patch, the International Space Station is prominently displayed to ...Read More
Training & Tribute: Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, Star City, Russia
Well, the second week of training in Star City has ended and it has been a busy week. The prime and backup crews of Expedition 25 have completed all the required pre-launch training in both the Soyuz spacecraft and the Russian Segment of the International Space Station. Last week we ...Read More
I suspect my airplane seat mate has not bathed in months + has likely never brushed his teeth!
My latest training trip to the European Astronaut Center near Cologne, Germany is over and I am presently back in Star City Russia. These past two weeks at the European Astronaut Center have been very productive. During the second week of training, I was joined by Scott Kelly on his ...Read More
Forecasting Volcanoes & Earthquakes and Making Better Mayonnaise
This is the 4th in a series of posts to highlight the scientific research being conducted on board the International Space Station. I spent the last week at the European Astronaut Center just outside the beautiful city of Cologne, Germany. I have one more week here before I head to ...Read More
On the Road Again
Okay, here I sit in the Houston airport in what has become an all too familiar part of Space Station training (life on the road). This trip should be very interesting. I’ll first spend 2 weeks in Cologne Germany at the European Astronaut Center (EAC) where I will train on ...Read More
Did You Know You Could Burn Water?
One of the main objectives of this blog is to highlight the scientific research being conducted on board the International Space Station (ISS). Specifically, I like to highlight how the research can improve life on Earth. This past week, I had quite a bit of training on some of the ...Read More
The 200 Best Songs in the World
I am presently building an iTunes playlist to take with me for my 6-month tour on board the International Space Station. I’m calling the playlist “The Best 200 Songs in the World”. Presently I have 68 (listed below in alphabetical order). I would really appreciate your suggestions and I'm open to any genre. Please just add your suggestions in the comment section of this post.Read More
Improving the Planet's Ability to Feed all Inhabitants
Part II of how scientific research being conducted on board the International Space Station can improve life on Earth. Another great experiment that we will participate in while on board the International Space Station is the ISS Agricultural Camera (ISSAC) experiment. ISSAC is a multi-spectral camera that will be installed ...Read More
InSpace-3 (I get to use the words: 'Colloidal Emulsions')
One of the main objectives of this blog is to highlight the scientific research being conducted on board the International Space Station. Specifically, I like to highlight how the research can improve life on Earth. This past week, I had quite a bit of training on some of the experiments ...Read More
Маленький шаг для Хрупкого Оазиса
20 июля 1969 года в возрасте 7 лет я присутствовал на праздновании пятидесятилетней годовщины свадьбы моих прабабушки и прадедушки, которое проходило в банкетном зале в городе Йонкерс, штат Нью Йорк. Задолго до этого мои прабабушка и прадедушка иммигрировали в Америку из России. Поздно вечером (для 7 летнего мальчика) все гости ...Read More
Japan in July
Another successful training trip is over. Just returned from a quick week trip to Japan. Scott Kelly and I spent a week with the Japanese Space Agency in Tsukuba Japan (about 2 hours NE of Tokyo). During the week we trained on the systems of the Japanese “Kibo” Laboratory (Kibo ...Read More
June 2010 Star City Training Trip Winding Down
Well my training trip to Star City is coming to an end and the last week has been very eventful. Starting with last Friday night, I attended a docking party hosted by Expedition 24 Commander Fyodor Yurchikhin’s, wife Larisa. It was fun celebrating a successful launch and docking with all ...Read More
Star City: June 2010 Let the Sims Begin!
I started training this week with my Expedition 25/26 backup crewmembers Sergei Volkov and Oleg Kononenko (2 Russian Cosmonauts that I spent time with on the ISS during STS-124 - Together we are the back-up crew for the Soyuz that will launch this October). Tomorrow is the 2nd of 3 ...Read More
Why This Blog
I began this blog simply to help others share in the wonderful experience of living and working in space.Read More
Splash Up + 1 Day
Our first full day back on the surface of the Earth was spent debriefing the mission, preparing for our return to Houston, conducting media interviews, and reflecting on the mission. We conducted science debriefs with the Center for Minimal Access Surgery and the National Space Biomedical Research Institute, and mission ...Read More
Splash Up (Splash Down +17 Days/Mission Day 18)
Everyone was out of their bunks early today in order to ensure everything was ready for splashup. We finished our final packing while ensuring that the habitat was cleaned and configured for us to depart and leave Aquarius untended. At about 8:30 am, shortly after reaching sea level pressure we ...Read More
Splash Down + 16 Days
Today is our last full day on Aquarius. As the mission draws to a close I find myself contending with mixed feelings. On the one hand, I am very much looking forward to reuniting with my family back in Houston but on the other hand, I am going to miss ...Read More
Splash Down + 15 Days
Today was our last full day of science. The day started out with all of us conducting live radio and television interviews. The interviews were consecutive 10 minute segments with WLW Radio (Cincinnati), CTV Morning Show (Toronto), CH 13 Fox TV (Tampa), CH 26 Fox TV (Houston), and CH 19 ...Read More
Splash Down + 14 Days
After a wonderful Easter and a much needed day of rest we stepped right back into our fast pace. This morning Tim and Nicole conducted a Superlite sea walk to compare the effectiveness of a grid search using the ROV vs. a human search party. Dave supported their sea walk ...Read More
Splash Down + 13 Days
What a unique place to wake up on Easter morning. Last night during our dive I had time to reflect on the incredible blessing we all have been given to celebrate the resurrection of the Lord while marveling at God's undersea creation. Dave brought some STS-107 pins with us on ...Read More
Splash Down + 12 Days
Again today we had computer problems that threatened to bring our planned science activities to a halt. We had to replan on the fly. We substituted the University of Nebraska mini surgical robot in for the EEG experiment and Tim and Nicole went outside to work on Waterlab. Later in ...Read More
Splash Down + 11 Days
Today started out with Dave and Nicole continuing the construction of WaterLab with me working as their IV. The IV is the crewmember who choreographs the extravehicular activity (EVA). It was an exciting time backing up Dave and Nicole on their construction, while simultaneously controlling the dive, setting up the ...Read More
Splash Down + 10 Days
This morning started out with Dave and I suiting up into our simulated lunar exploration suits (Superlite 17 Dive helmet with a simulated Primary Life Support System (PLSS)). This PLSS in conjunction with the weights that we were wearing allowed us to experience the same gravity as the Moon. We ...Read More
Splash Down + 9 Days
Today was another day in the water. Dave and I spent the morning electronically mapping our simulated landing area. While we were on the excursion, Mission Control in Houston and our crewmembers in Aquarius tracked our location and progress via our diver tracking system. We spent a good portion of ...Read More
Splash Down + 8 Days
Well we're past the halfway point in the mission. Today we spent a lot of time outside. This morning Dave, Nicole, Tim and I proceeded South from the habitat. Our mission was to map and mark an area of our simulated lunar landing site and communicate with Mission Control in ...Read More
Splash Down + 7 Days
Today was another exciting day. The first thing I did in the morning was hang a sign in front of the main lock internet camera wishing Ronnie and Joseph a happy birthday. They both commented later in the day (when I called them) that they saw the sign on the ...Read More
Splash Down + 6 Days
Today is Palm Sunday and a very appropriate day to conduct our dawn dive. Dave, Nicole, Tim, and I departed from Aquarius before sunrise. We proceeded to the South and found a nice spot on the reef to observe the change in sea life as the environment transitioned from night ...Read More
Splash Down + 5 Days
Today is Carmel's birthday so the first thing I did when I awoke this morning was to hang a "Happy Birthday" sign on the wall immediately in front of the camera that broadcasts to the internet. I wish I could be there to celebrate Carmel's birthday with her. The best ...Read More
Splash Down + 4 Days
Today was a day of computer challenges. We spent a good portion of the day overcoming several computer malfunctions that affected some of our science experiments, the operation of our remotely controlled vehicles and our interface with our in-water electronic mapping and tracking equipment. We were able to work through ...Read More
Splash Down + 3 Days
I think today was the busiest day so far (at least it feels that way). The highlight of the day was definitely the "sea walk" that Dave and I performed on the sea floor around Aquarius. The weight belt that we wore approximated the gravity that we would experience on ...Read More
Splash Down + 2 Days
What an incredible day. The day started out with a test drive/fly of one of our remotely controlled vehicles (ROVs) affectionately called Skuttle. We started by flying the vehicle off the "porch" on the back of the habitat. We flew it over to a location where we believed simulated lunar ...Read More
Splash Down + 1 Day
Waking up this morning to see the dawn and sea life through our bunk room view port was incredible. Sleeping on the bottom of the ocean was really awesome experience. We fell asleep to the sound of snapping shrimp feeding on the exterior of our habitat. The snapping and crackling ...Read More
Splash Down
What an amazing day. After spending the weekend getting prepared for the mission, going over our equipment and procedures, we departed Key Largo at 9:30AM. The team said good bye and wished us well. We dove down to Aquarius around 10:30 and navigated around the reef to get the lay ...Read More
Splashdown-3
The last day of formal training started out with a briefing for the entire NURC crew explaining the goals of all the scientific experimentation that we will conduct on the mission. After our morning briefs we headed out to a shallow reef to check out the dive helmets (SuperLite 17) ...Read More
Splashdown-4
The morning was spent going over the habitat systems and emergency procedures. Aquarius is an amazing facility and is very similar to a space craft in many ways. In the afternoon we dove on Conch Reef with the Kirby Morgan masks that we will use when we scuba during the ...Read More
Splashdown-5
Again we spent the morning in briefings and going over our equipment. We trained on the Kirby-Morgan communication mask that we will use to communicate with each other and with Mission Control (ExPoc) in Houston while on excursions outside of the habitat. We also went over procedures to find excursion ...Read More
Splashdown-6
We spent the morning going over the equipment and procedures that we will use with our cave reels to ensure we always have a positive way to get back to the habitat (by tethering a cave reel line to an excursion line). We also went over the lost buddy procedures ...Read More
Splashdown-7
We spent the morning taking our NURC swim test (everyone did great) and going over our scuba gear. We're using twin 100ft3 tanks. In the afternoon we did an equipment shake down dive in the training area at the Aquarius habitat. On the boat ride out to the site three ...Read More
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