In the 1970s, NASA’s Stennis Space Center designed a series of canals to support the rocket engine testing mission. However, these canals serve alternative purposes. NASA allows agencies and companies to contract the use of these canals for the testing of uncrewed underwater systems that could be used for deepwater missions. Narrow canals at NASA Stennis provide an opportunity to test these systems in shallow waters that have limited changes in biological, geological, and hydrographic conditions. Understanding of how a vehicle will respond to remote controls can be tested without interference from outside factors.

Additionally, NASA uses deep ocean exploration as an “analog” to test technologies, train astronauts, and search for life, treating Earth’s deep sea as a stand-in for the no gravity aspects of space travel. NASA sends astronauts to underwater habitats to simulate space missions. Who knew that space missions and underwater missions were so linked?

Some of the jobs associated with the use of NASA Stennis canals include:

• Engineer: Help design and test new underwater vehicles and sensors!
• Technician: Support vehicle operations!
• Mathematician: Use math to guide sensors to get the best data!
• Physicist: Watch these vehicles rock and roll in the ocean!
• Hydrographer: Help understand how these systems work in the
  environment!
• Computer Programmer: Develop remote controls for vehicles!

For additional information on work at NASA Stennis, please visit www.nasa.gov/Stennis/.