NASA is sending a team of four crew members to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, which will spend 10 days simulating a deep space mission with similar objectives to exploration on Mars.
Living and working at the bottom of the ocean mimics the micro-gravity (or harsh) environment that humans will experience in space. Researchers at the University of South Florida (USF) in the US said the crew will conduct simulated spacewalks, test time delays in communication, evaluate a variety of tools and procedures to be used in future space missions.
The NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations (NEEMO) 22 expedition will begin on June 18 when the crew will splash down to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.