The SeaOrbiter, also known as Sea Orbiter (two words), is a proposed oceangoing research vessel. Construction was due to start in 2014 but by May 2015, only the Eye of ''SeaOrbiter'' has been completed, and as of early 2021, there is no news of any other construction.
The SeaOrbiter is planned to allow scientists and others a residential yet mobile research station positioned under the oceans' surface, with laboratories, workshops, living quarters and a pressurized deck to support divers and submarines.
SeaOrbiter is a project of the "Floating oceanographic laboratory" organisation. It is headed by French architect Jacques Rougerie, oceanographer
Jacques Piccard
Jacques Piccard (28 July 19221 November 2008) was a Swiss oceanographer and engineer, known for having developed underwater submarines for studying ocean currents. In the Challenger Deep, he and Lt. Don Walsh of the United States Navy were the f ...
and astronaut
Jean-Loup Chrétien
Jean-Loup Jacques Marie Chrétien (born 20 August 1938) is a French retired ''Général de Brigade'' (brigadier general) in the ''Armée de l'Air'' (French air force), and a former CNES spationaut. He flew on two Franco-Soviet space missions a ...
. In 2012 the cost was estimated to be around .
Description
As proposed, the laboratory would be a semi-submersible oceangoing craft weighing . It would have a total height of with below sea level.
It is designed to float vertically and drift with the ocean currents but has two small propellers allowing it to modify its trajectory and maneuver in confined waters. Underwater robots would be sent from the laboratory to explore the seabed. The hull would be made of an alloy of aluminum and magnesium.
See also
*
''Ben Franklin'' (PX-15), a 1968 research vessel designed to house a six-man crew for up to 30 days of oceanographic study in the depths of the Gulf Stream.
* ''
Earth 300'', a proposed superyacht intended for scientific research
*
NEEMO
NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations, or NEEMO, is a NASA analog mission that sends groups of astronauts, engineers and scientists to live in the Aquarius underwater laboratory, the world's only undersea research station, for up to three ...
, ongoing NASA program
References
External links
*{{Official website
Research vessels of France
Research stations
Research submarines of France
Human analog missions
Proposed ships
2013 in France
2013 in science
2013 in transport