The Hydronaut project is an underwater habitat that started operations last year and is currently the scene for analog space research. Dr. Miroslav Rozloznik, Flight Planner of the Austrian Space Forum, has just surfaced from an underwater analog space mission that was fully dedicated to science. The week-long mission, in which three analog astronauts participated, included a two-day underwater stay, and featured an EVA. Scientist-on-Board, Dr. Miroslav Rozloznik from Slovakia, conducted numerous experiments in the areas of physiology, microbiology, medicine, and space psychology.

“Conducting underwater analog missions complements Moon or Mars simulations in land-based habitats”, says Dr. Rozloznik. “While we might not be able to test rovers, drones, or rock sampling procedures, the feeling in the underwater habitat is much more space-like. I felt very detached from Earth, even the support diver appeared like an alien, when he was looking into our porthole, dressed in his diving suit. The underwater habitat also offers the possibility to simulate more complex conditions like long periods of darkness, or variation in temperature and humidity. Furthermore, the ‘psychological safety net’ of being able to open the door and get help in case something happens, is not there. We can leave the habitat but are the facing several hours of decompression in cold water before we are back in a safe environment.”

Part of the underwater experiments focused on the internal environment of the habitat, gathering data relating to air quality, temperature, humidity, and microbiology of the habitat. Another area of research was dedicated to medical and physiological well-being of the divers. Dr. Rozloznik tested novel diagnostic instruments, for example, a remote stethoscope that was transmitting real-time heartbeat and breathing rates to a doctor located in the mission control center. Such equipment will be very useful for future space exploration and has also many applications for telemedicine on Earth. The crew also tested various biosensors, allowing for comparison and cross-link between physiological, neurophysiological, and psychological measurements.

One of the psychological experiments on board was a pilot of the Movement, Space, and Group health (MSG) study of the Eco Encounter Study Institute in Israel, which will be fully implemented during the ÖWF’s AMADEE-20 analog mission in Israel in October. This study provides interesting insights into individual and group well-being in isolated and extreme environments. Under the scientific leadership of Dr. Rozloznik, the team participated in research interviews and regularly reported their well-being, thus producing a substantial amount of data. The MSG experiment team will analyse these during the coming weeks, so we will hit the ground running for AMADEE-20.

About Dr. Miroslav Rozloznik
I am an underwater scientist and have been doing research underwater and on drivers for more than 20 years. I am also lecturing hyperbaric medicine at the Faculty of Medicine at Ostrava University in the Czech Republic. When I am not underwater, I run my own business, where I am involved in quality control, ISO certification, and risk assessments. I also help organizations writing proposals for projects and grants. My involvement in extreme missions, being in the polar regions, in mountains, or underwater help me in my business as I developed a much better understanding of risks and their management. Based on this, I am currently developing some high-profile trainings that will greatly benefit managers. And of course, as a diving instructor, my students benefit from my experience in extreme environments. Contact:

HYDRONAUT MISSION 2, basic facts:
mission length: 5 days, 41 hrs underwater
depth: 7 meters
temperature in the habitat: 12 °C
ambient water temperature: 7 °C
Time to surface: 1.5 hrs (multi-staged oxygen in-water decompression)
More information: https://hydronaut.eu/en.php

By Karin Brünnemann, Flight Planner at Austrian Space Forum