Ask an Aquanaut: Decompression
Tomlin Middle School asks: When it says the crew has 17 hours of decompression what do you mean? Is the entire time in the bunks with the masks on or is the Aquarius interior being decompress before they can surface after a mission?
Dear Tomlin Middle School,
That is a great question. During our decompression the pressure inside Aquarius is slowly reduced until it reaches 1 Atmosphere which is 14.7psi (surface pressure). During the first one hour and ten minutes of decompression we lay in our bunks and breath 100% oxygen from masks. We do that for three 20 minute periods, with a five minute air break in between each oxygen period. After that the Aquanauts can move around inside Aquarius, but can not go outside since our hatch is sealed.
After the decompression period is complete we briefly re-pressurize the interior so we can the hatch open and swim up to the surface.
One of the U.S. Navy divers told me this: “the best way to deal with a long decompression period is to use the 3M rule……….Meals, Movies & Mattress”.
Thank you for following our mission.
James Talacek
Habitat Technician
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