posted 08-01-2016 12:05 AM               

Astronaut-aquanauts: 50 people have now orbited Earth and lived undersea

Reid Wiseman is back on the surface of the Earth.

A NASA astronaut since 2009, Wiseman logged 165 days on the International Space Station two years ago. His most recent landfall Friday (July 29) was not from orbit, but from under the ocean.

"Proud to be the 50th human who has orbited Earth and lived under the sea," Wiseman wrote on Twitter.

posted 08-01-2016 10:22 PM               

According to NASA NEEMO Mission Director (and aquanaut) Marc Reagan, Megan McArthur Behnken is the 50th astronaut-aquanaut. When two astronauts who have flown in space become aquanauts in the same mission (as is the case for NEEMO 21), the ordering is based on who was commander. Wiseman served as the commander first, hence he is no. 49, and then Behnken, who is no. 50.