By Kimiya Yui (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency)
Image at right: Aquanaut Kimiya Yui performs tasks underwater while using a jetpack.
Under the water, the scenery is so beautiful, but we don’t have much time to enjoy this view when we are conducting EVAs.
On Mission Day 4, we did various tasks which were almost the same as Mission Day 3. However, we started using a jet pack for our tasks. Have you ever dreamed about becoming a “Superman?” Yes! Our jet packs (simulated “Super SAFER,” packs that ISS astronauts use) allow us make this dream to come true. It’s cool, easy and smooth! Everyone liked this method of moving around. I felt as if I was flying around an asteroid! However, we can’t just enjoy flying… We are going to go to an asteroid to do science, research, work etc., not just for fun. So, we started doing our tasks by using this jet pack. Once we started to do our tasks, we didn’t like this method as much because it was hard to stay in the same place. Yes, it was fun but it was hard to do our tasks! We are testing various kinds of methods, and each one has its pros and cons.
We are working really hard and take this really seriously because we all know that this kind of test can save billions of dollars in the future, if we conduct the test correctly and get accurate data.
To get good data, the entire NEEMO team is cooperating with each other and doing their tasks. We are lucky, because we have a lot of skillful and professional people in this place that allow us to conduct this amazing mission.
I hope our efforts will contribute to the future of human exploration, and I really hope future human exploration will be conducted under the international framework!
Learn more about NEEMO at www.nasa.gov/neemo