destination: space under water
Designing Underwater Training Habitats
By Javier Montiel M.Ed. - united states

DESTINATION: SPACE UNDER WATER
Activity Duration: 90+ min
​Recommended Age: K-College
Design and build underwater habitats with activities at various levels of experience (roughly related to age as well).

The mission is to build an architectural concept and a model that supports underwater human activity like those inspired by NEEMO (NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations).
Image & Video Credit: Pixabay. Music Credit: YouTube library 
EXPERIENCE

Watch this quick video to get inspired about what you can create!
EXPERIENCE

​Watch the first video below about NEEMO, and start thinking about how you can create an underwater habitat using simple household materials.  Then, watch the next video about the NASA ​Engineering Design Process, and discuss with your parents and friends what you have learned.
EXPERIENCE
Take an interactive tour of the Aquarius underwater lab, where NEEMO takes place.  Click on the following links to submerge in the experience: Interior, Exterior
CREATE
Design and build an underwater habitat with household items or in virtual reality!

Select your challenge and get the materials (materials list is below).
space_underwater_materials.pdf
File Size: 245 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
If you are doing the advanced challenge for virtual reality, make sure you are over 13 years old. If you are under 13, please read the restrictions links so your teacher or parent can help you to create an account.
  • Beginner: Sketch an underwater habitat. The challenge is to build the concept using household items from a selected list. (Suggested ages 5-10).  
destination_space_under_water_beginners.pdf
File Size: 1097 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
  • Intermediate​: Create a physical underwater habitat. The challenge is to build an underwater structure that can hold an underwater air bubble.  Choose the materials from a list or household items freely available like Legos. (Suggested ages 6-12)
destination_space_under_water_intermediate.pdf
File Size: 1095 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
  • Advanced: Create a virtual underwater habitat. The challenge is to design an underwater 3D model in Tinkercad and export it to CoSpaces to create a virtual reality experience. (Suggested ages 11 and up)
destination_space_under_water_advanced.pdf
File Size: 1065 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
SHOW US YOUR SPACE UNDER WATER HABITAT. ​Send us your drawing, pictures, videos or soundbites to SciArt Exchange (submit here) and we will share your creativity with other kids around the world.

OTHER RELATED DESIGN YOUR HABITAT VIDEOS AND ACTIVITIES

ISOLATED EARTH HABITATS & CITIES IN SPACE
ARCHITECTURE AND IDEAS TO REALITY
SPACE AND PERSPECTIVE
Click here for for full activity plan and for Resources for Educators, Parents and Students who want to know more...