Nasa Is Testing Concepts For A Potential Asteroid Mission Underwater

(PHYSORG)- AN INTERNATIONAL CREW OF AQUANAUTS IS SETTLING INTO ITS HOME ON THE OCEAN FLOOR, WHERE THE TEAM WILL SPEND 12 DAYS TESTING CONCEPTS FOR A POTENTIAL ASTEROID MISSION. THE EXPEDITION IS THE 16TH EXCURSION OF THE NASA EXTREME ENVIRONMENT MISSION OPERATIONS (NEEMO). THE CREW OF FOUR BEGAN ITS MISSION IN THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION'S AQUARIUS REEF BASE UNDERSEA RESEARCH HABITAT OFF THE COAST OF KEY LARGO, FLA., AT 11:04 A.M. EDT MONDAY. NEEMO sends groups of astronauts, engineers and scientists to live in the Aquarius lab, 63 feet below the surface of the Atlantic Ocean. The laboratory is located in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. For NASA, Aquarius provides a convincing simulation to space exploration, and NEEMO crew members experience some of the same tasks and challenges under water that they would in space.The NEEMO 16 mission will focus on three areas related to asteroid missions. The crew of aquanauts will investigate communication delays, restraint and translation techniques, and optimum crew size. "Keep on reading..."

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