Showing posts with label NEEMO 16. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NEEMO 16. Show all posts

Friday, April 9, 2021

Happy birthday, astronaut Serena Auñón-Chancellor!


Serena Aunon-Chancellor, born April 9, 1976 in Indianapolis, Indiana, is the second Hispanic female astronaut.  She went into space aboard Soyuz MS-09 to the International Space Station in June 2018.  She participated in Expeditions 56 and 57.  

She also participated in Aquarius underwater laboratory NEEMO 16 and NEEMO 20.


Thursday, January 30, 2020

Happy birthday, Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui!


Kimiya Yui, born January 30, 1970 in Japan, has spent 141 days in space aboard the International Space Station.  He went aboard Soyuz TMA-17M in July 2015 and served as part of Expeditions 44 and 45.  He returned to Earth December 2015.

Prior to going to space, Yui was an aquanaut in the Aquarius Underwater Laboratory in June 2012.  He was part of expedition NEEMO 16.


Friday, May 4, 2018

Happy birthday, Space Shuttle astronaut Mike Gernhardt!



Michael L. Gernhardt, born May 4, 1956 in Mansfield, Ohio, is a veteran of four space shuttle flights and three missions to NASA's Aquarius underwater laboratory.

His first mission was as mission  specialist on Endeavour (STS-69) in September 1995, NASA's 100th successful manned spaceflight.

His second flight, also as mission specialist was on Columbia (STS-83) in April 1997, but the mission was cut short due to a problem with a fuel cell.

His third mission was STS-94 on Columbia in July 1997.  This was the "reflight" of STS-83, which was cut short.

His fourth flight was on Atlantis (STS-104) in July 2001 to the International Space Station. He conducted three  EVAs during the mission.

In April 2005, he commanded NEEMO 8, in NASA's Aquarius underwater laboratory.  NEEMO stands for NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations.  His second mission underwater was for NEEMO 15, when he piloted the DeepWorker submersible, a small submarine which is a "stand-in" for a Space Exploration Vehicle that may one day explore an asteroid.

Most recently, he piloted hte DeepWorker submersible during NEEMO 16, for which he was principal investigator.