Blue Abyss, a UK-based extreme environment training company, is working with NASA’s Glenn Research Center to develop a new facility to prepare the next generation of private astronauts for spaceflight.
Using NASA’s expertise, Blue Abyss aims to develop training methods, research, and facilities to support the future of human spaceflight on the private sector’s dime in anticipation of a post-ISS future.
Find it here: The partnership centers around a new facility down the street from the Glenn Research Center in Brook Park, OH, which Blue Abyss expects to complete by early 2027.
The facility will house one of the world’s largest R&D pools, a human centrifuge, and hypobaric and hyperbaric chambers. It will also include a hotel and access to parabolic flights, enabling microgravity research and training.
Blue Abyss will work with NASA to outline a 10-year plan for what infrastructure will be needed to prepare commercial spacefarers to venture to orbit.
“Expect a modern, commercial, exciting venue that offers all the ingredients necessary to take people off the street…and get them ready to go into space,” Blue Abyss’ CEO John Vickers told Payload.
Mars shot: As the number of proposed missions grows and America’s ambition to reach Mars gains steam, Blue Abyss is positioning itself as the best possible partner to fill the pipeline of well-trained astronauts to occupy those seats.
“The new administration gave voice to a stated, ambitious, laudable goal: We’re going to go to Mars.” Vickers said. “The opportunity now is to do that more commercially, not placing the burden all on taxpayers.”
The Ohio facility will be the first in what Blue Abyss hopes will be a global network of extreme environment training sites. The company has received funding for a second facility in the UK, and has discussed more potential sites in the Middle East and Asia, according to Vickers.
