- Published on
Analog astronauts: How living underwater can prepare humans for space missions
- Authors
- Name
- DeepHorus
This summer, a veteran analog astronaut led SEA STAR, a simulated space mission inside Jules’ Undersea Lab near Key Largo, Florida. The station sits 22 feet (6.7 meters) underwater, forcing crew members to scuba dive in and out. The mission tested how underwater conditions prepare humans for the International Space Station, the moon and Mars.
To become aquanauts, participants had to stay submerged for at least 24 hours in saturation. The commander had led almost 40 analog missions on land but wanted underwater experience to sharpen leadership, research and diving skills. SEA STAR took more than a year to organize, including team selection, projects and funding.
Underwater analog missions carry higher risks than land-based simulations, from equipment failures during simulated spacewalks to storms forcing nighttime evacuations. Because crew safety is more exposed, the team followed stricter procedures than in standard land analogs. Those protocols made the mission feel closer to an actual astronaut mission.
The crew combined experienced analog astronauts and divers. Paul Bakken was executive officer and managed logistics; Dr. Brandy Nunez was health and safety officer and studied microgreens; Jenn Pint led a taxonomy project with Interstellar Performance Labs. The commander oversaw crew safety and health.
The underwater setting enabled neutral buoyancy experiments during simulated spacewalks and research on high atmospheric pressure’s effects on humans. It also tested how crews manage diverse projects and confinement challenges similar to the ISS. Such work helps identify risks before humans travel farther into space.
The mission underscored both the advantages and hazards of underwater space analog research. It showed that realistic pressure, safety procedures and isolation can improve training for future explorers. As space agencies plan longer missions, underwater habitats are likely to remain valuable proving grounds.
