NASA plans undersea space mission

HOUSTON, July 25 (UPI) -- NASA has announced a plan to send three astronauts and an aerospace engineer deep beneath the ocean to study space exploration concepts.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration's research will be conducted off the Florida coast Aug. 6-15, with NASA veteran astronaut and aquanaut Nicholas Patrick leading the mission aboard the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's underwater laboratory Aquarius.

NASA astronaut Richard Arnold, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Satoshi Furukawa and systems integration engineer Christopher Gerty will complete the crew.

During the project, the crew will conduct a variety of undersea "moon walks" using advanced navigation and communication equipment.

"This autonomous mode of operation will encourage the crew to make real-time decisions about daily operations similar to what we think will be necessary for lunar and Mars missions," said Project Manager Bill Todd at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. "The idea is to show how procedures and training for future missions can be adapted, considering the reduced direct communication with mission control those crews will encounter."

The crew also will participate in research focusing on the physiological and psychological aspects of living in extreme environments.