Cover Page

Man in Space A National Historic Landmark Theme Study

Interior View of Water Tank with astronaut and support personnel, 1980.
(Courtesy of NASA, NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center Facilities Office)

Neutral Buoyancy Space Simulator

The Neutral Buoyancy Simulator is in Building 4705 at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. A large water tank, 75 feet in diameter and 40 feet deep is the heart of the simulator. The water within the simulator is temperature controlled, continuously recirculated, and filtered. There are four observation levels with portholes to view activities within the simulator. An elevator serves all four observation levels. Special systems are integrated into the tank for underwater audio and video, pressure-suit environmental control, and emergency rescue and treatment. Life support is simultaneously provided by these systems for up to four pressure-suited subjects. Additional systems include data acquisition and recording, underwater lighting, special underwater pneumatic and electrical power operations of motor, valves, controls, and indicators that are required for high fidelity, and functional engineering mockups and trainers.

Adjacent to the Neutral Buoyancy Simulator is a completely equipped test control area for directing, controlling, and monitoring simulation activities in the Neutral Buoyancy Simulator. An annex contains the operating crew dressing and shower area. [1]

The Neutral Buoyancy Simulator was constructed in 1955 by the Army at the Redstone Arsenal. It was designed to provide a simulated zero-gravity environment in which engineers, designers, and astronauts could perform, for extended periods of time, the various phases of research needed to gain first hand knowledge concerning design and operation problems associated with working in the zero-gravity environment of space. Because of this capability to support research and testing of operational techniques and materials needed to success fully performed manned space missions the Neutral Buoyancy Simulator contributed significantly to the American manned space program especially Projects Gemini, Apollo, Skylab, and the Space Shuttle. The Neutral Buoyancy Simulator is a facility that is unique within the NASA inventory of training facilities. Until the mid-1970s, when an additional facility was constructed at the Johnson Space Flight Center to support the Space Shuttle Program, this facility was the only test facility that allowed astronauts to become familiar with the dynamics of body motion under weightless conditions.

The Neutral Buoyancy Simulator is on the NASA public tour of the Marshall Space Flight Center and is interpreted to the public.

1. George C. Marshall Space Flight Center Master Plan (Washington, D.C.: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1980), p.31.

Brooks, Courtney G., Grimwood, James M., and Swenson, Loyd S. Chariots for Apollo: A History of Manned Lunar Spacecraft. Washington, D.C.: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1979.

Draft Historic Properties Report Redstone Arsenal, Alabama with the George C. Marshall Space Flight Center. Silver Spring, Maryland: Building Technology Incorporated, 1983.

Master Plan George C. Marshall Space Flight Center. Washington, D.C.: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 1980.

(click on the above photographs for a more detailed view)

Last Modified: Mon, Jan 8 2001 10:00:00 am PDT
man-in-space/space17.htm