Astronauts to get giant new training pool

Work is underway in Cornwall, UK, to construct the deepest research
pool in the world – one that will be used to train scientists and
astronauts for harsh undersea and space environments

Astronauts experience
weightlessness in pool
by inflating spacesuit
until its density is equal
to that of water –
neutral buoyancy

Retracting roof: Opens
to allow larger apparatus
to be delivered

Lighting: Can be
adjusted to match
specific environments

Habitation
modules

Cost:
$200m

Hypobaric and
hyperbaric
chambers

HUMAN
TO SCALE

Pool:
42,000m3 – same
as 17 Olympic-sized
swimming pools

Access:
30-tonne
crane delivers
heavy loads

Depth:
Cylindrical
zone has
record-breaking
depth of 50m

Stepped design:
Different currents can
be simulated at different
depths

Conditions: Water
salinity and temperature
can be adjusted to mimic
real environments

40m
50m

Blue Abyss
London
ENGLAND

Artist’s
impression

Jan 2025: NASA signs up to offer technical support and use pool for
training purposes – its own neutral buoyancy pool is only 12m deep

Sources: How It Works, Blue Abyss
Picture: Blue Abyss
© GRAPHIC NEWS