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Neemo 15 Crewmembers
Credit: NASA
NEEMO 15 crewmembers, (from left to right) Takuya Onishi of the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency, David Saint-Jacques of the Canadian Space Agency, Steve Squyres of Cornell University, and Shannon Walker of NASA, prepare to splash down and start their mission on Oct. 20, 2011.
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NASA NEEMO 15 Mission - Simulating an Asteroid
Credit: NASA
NASA's NEEMO 15 expedition will simulate aspects of a mission to an asteroid. In this illustration, a configured rock wall can be seen near the underwater Aquarius laboratory.
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Neemo 15 Cewmembers Training
Credit: NASA
NEEMO 15 crewmembers David Saint-Jaques and Steve Squyres receive training on Oct. 15, 2011 to familiarize themselves with the tools they will be using on their mission.
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Neemo 15 Cewmembers Morning Meeting
Credit: NASA
A portion of the NEEMO 15 Mission Control team receives instructions during a morning meeting on Oct. 17, 2011.
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NEEMO 15 Training on Asteroid Simulation Wall
Credit: NASA
During a training session for the NEEMO 15 mission, planetary scientist Steve Squyres (left) and Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi (right) get familiarized with the underwater asteroid simulation wall.
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NEEMO 15 Crewmembers Splash Down
Credit: NASA
NEEMO 15 crewmembers prepare to dive to the Aquarius Underwater Laboratory on Oct. 20, 2011.
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Artist Illustration - Mission to an Asteroid
Credit: NASA
Artist's concept of anchoring to the surface of an asteroid.
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Neemo 15 Aquanauts Underwater
Credit: NASA
NASA astronaut Shannon Walker, Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi (JAXA), planetary scientist Steve Squyres, and Canadian astronaut David Saint-Jacques, pose outside the Aquarius Underwater Laboratory on Oct. 21, 2011. Habitat technicians and professional "aquanauts" Nate Bender and James Talek can be seen inside.
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Traversing the Asteroid Surface
Credit: NASA
n one of the mission's extravehicular activities, Canadian astronaut David Saint-Jacques experiments with tethering to a solid surface.
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Steve Squyers Anchors to Asteroid Wall During NEEMO 15 Mission
Credit: NASA
Steve Squyers maneuvers to an anchor point on "asteroid" rock wall during one of the extravehicular activities.
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Crewmembers Use Translation Lines to Collect Samples
Credit: NASA
Steve Squyers (Cornell) and David Saint-Jacques (CSA) use translation lines to collect interesting samples on the surface. As part of the NEEMO 15 mission, the aquanauts are experimenting with different ways to move around and perform science on the surface of an asteroid.
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Neemo 15 Crewmember Experiments With Walking
Credit: NASA
Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi tests how to move around on a simulated asteroid wall.
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Astronauts Practice Moving Along a Translation Line
Credit: NASA
Takuya Onishi (JAXA) and Shannon Walker (NASA) practice moving along a translation line tied to an anchor on the simulated asteroid rock wall.
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Daily Planning Conference with MMCC
Credit: NASA
Jeremy Hansen, of the Canadian Space Agency, serves as the Capsule Communicator (CAPCOM) for NEEMO 15's Mobile Mission Control Center. A daily planning conference is conducted twice a day to summarize the day's activities and to plan out future tasks.
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DeepWorker Beginning Science Traverse
Credit: NASA
Two DeepWorker submarines are being used for the NEEMO 15 mission, one for science traverses, and another as a simulated Space Exploration Vehicle (SEV).
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Astronaut Shannon Walker Maneuvers Around The Simulated Asteroid Floor
Credit: NASA
NASA astronaut Shannon Walker maneuvers around the simulated asteroid floor, collecting samples during this extravehicular excursion on Oct. 23, 2011.
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Astronauts Pose for Picture Underwater
Credit: NASA
Shannon Walker and Steve Squyers pose for a quick picture after completing their extravehicular activities.
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Moving to a Sample Point
Credit: NASA
Canadian astronaut David Saint-Jacques, in a foot restraint, is maneuvered around by Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi to an ideal simulated sample point.
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NEEMO 15 Crew Gathers at the Galley Table
Credit: NASA
The NEEMO 15 aquanauts gather in the evening on Oct. 22, 2011 in their Aquarius habitat to discuss the next day's activities.
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Astronaut David Saint-Jacques Prepares to Take Rock Chip Samples
Credit: NASA
David Saint-Jacques moves around on a simulated asteroid and prepares his equipment to take some rock chip samples.
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Rock Chipping Opportunity
Credit: NASA
David Saint-Jacques uses a standard machinist hammer to chip off a piece of the simulated asteroid to collect in a sample bag.
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Astronauts Shannon Walker And Steve Squyers Collect Samples
Credit: NASA
Shannon Walker collects samples and stores them in her side pouch while her feet are secured to foot restraints on a large boom. Steve Squyers assists by maneuvering her on the boom.
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Neemo 15 Science Team
Credit: NASA
The NEEMO 15 science team poses for a photo in front of the DeepWorker submarines. The team members represent multiple NASA centers, several government agencies, research organizations, and academia.
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NASA NEEMO 15 Diver - Engineering Test
Credit: NASA
A NEEMO engineering crew diver simulates anchoring to an asteroid surface.
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NEEMO 15 Simulated Asteroid Surface
Credit: NASA Analogs
A diver anchoring to a simulated asteroid surface created for NASA's underwater NEEMO 15 mission.
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NEEMO 15 Crew At the End of Their Shortened Mission
Credit: NASA
Four members of the NEEMO 15 crew are pictured after they were forced to return to the surface on Oct. 26, 2011, six days ahead of schedule, due to safety concerns surrounding Hurricane Rina. From left to right: Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi, Canadian astronaut David Saint-Jacques, NASA astronaut Shannon Walker, and planetary scientist Steve Squyres.
