{"id":187,"date":"2016-04-04T08:43:49","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T08:43:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.divehq.co.nz\/blog\/?p=187"},"modified":"2016-04-04T08:43:49","modified_gmt":"2016-04-04T08:43:49","slug":"scuba-diving-for-nasa-zero-gravity-training","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/divehq.co.nz\/blog\/scuba-diving-for-nasa-zero-gravity-training\/","title":{"rendered":"Scuba Diving for NASA – Zero Gravity Training"},"content":{"rendered":"

Scuba Diving is one of the closest experiences we have on earth that we can liken to floating in space. \u00a0NASA has recognised the value of training their astronauts to operate in a neutrally buoyant underwater environment, in order to prepare them for zero-gravity in space. \u00a0Dive operation specialists such as Chris Peterman have the unique job of working in the Neutral Buoyancy laboratory (NBL) near\u00a0<\/span>NASA’s Johnson Space Centre in Houston<\/span><\/span><\/strong>,<\/span><\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>Texas, USA. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Scuba<\/a><\/p>\n

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I’m sure many Scuba divers can relate, to letting their imaginations turn their scuba equipment and dive suit into an astronaut suit, and letting themselves float and spin and glide weightlessly through space. \u00a0A night dive in Honduras certainly had this effect on me, floating through the darkness, with the added effect of phosphorescence as I waved my hands around, I soon became a space-woman with stars flying around me. \u00a0It makes sense, then, that if you wanted to replicate the space environment for an astronaut, you would have them practice underwater.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The work of dive specialist at NASA, involve many areas including instructing astronauts, maintaining the scuba equipment, working with robotics, mixing breathing gas, and operating communications within the underwater training facility. \u00a0The facility, pictured below, replicates the space environment, with the spaceship and equipment, surrounded by clear still water. \u00a0Diving in perfect visibility with no currents, adds to the illusion of being in outer space. \u00a0Those of you who have experienced Scuba diving in crystal clear caves will appreciate how when you can’t see or feel the water you start to think it is not there.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"divers<\/a><\/p>\n

So how would someone get into working in such a fascinating job? \u00a0Getting scuba certified and gaining as much dive experience as possible, such as recreational diving, and working as a dive instructor. \u00a0Find out more about the full year<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/b>Diploma in Scuba Diving<\/span><\/span><\/b><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>course offered by<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/b>Dive HQ Christchurch<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>and where this qualification can take you. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Scuba Diving is one of the closest experiences we have on earth that we can liken to floating in space. \u00a0NASA has recognised the value of training their astronauts to operate in a neutrally buoyant underwater environment, in order to prepare them for zero-gravity in space. \u00a0Dive operation specialists such as Chris Peterman have the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":189,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/divehq.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/187"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/divehq.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/divehq.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/divehq.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/divehq.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=187"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/divehq.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/187\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":193,"href":"http:\/\/divehq.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/187\/revisions\/193"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/divehq.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/189"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/divehq.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=187"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/divehq.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=187"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/divehq.co.nz\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=187"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}