Posts: 1316
From: Syracuse, NY
Registered: Jan 2005

posted 04-05-2011 09:52 PM               

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The comic conversation between Scott Carpenter and Lyndon Johnson is well known but I was wondering if the Sealab program had any effect on the manned space program.

At the time of Sealab II America's total manned space experience was less that two weeks, but Carpenter remained on the sea floor for twice as long and in conditions remarkably similar to a long-duration flight, involving isolation and living in close quarters for an extended length of time.

Even though he was medically grounded, Carpenter must have discussed what went on with NASA. Did they ever take any of his lessons and apply them to flight?

It seems this information would have been valuable, but I've never read anything about the impact it had.

Posts: 1313
From: Staten Island, New York USA
Registered: Nov 2007

posted 04-07-2011 04:02 PM               

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As far as I have read and followed the Sealab program (I even built a Sealab III model put out by Aurora back in the day), no type of 'technology transfer' or insights into long-duration space missions were passed on to NASA after the Navy program ended. The equipment/procedures tested were unique to the program, such as new saturation diving techniques and an insulated suit for deep-sea diving. They even used a trained dolphin, 'Tuffy', to pick/up deliver supplies (!).

Keep in mind, NASA probably had reams of studies on crew performance on Navy submarines during their months-long deployments, and it would be several more decades until NASA conducted their own underwater lab program, NEEMO, tied to future ISS operations. In fact, Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield, due for a tour of duty at the ISS next year, spent two weeks in NEEMO in 2010..