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Sea Orbiter: space station for the ocean
You're looking at the aquatic version of the International Space Station: the Sea Orbiter, designed by French architect Jacques Rougerie. A 170-foot-tall vessel, it's designed to float across the ocean with the help of currents and wind, taking a leisurely two years to make its journey. About two-thirds of the structure will remain underwater, and that section will be used for "a fish-collection system for studies of the pelagic ecosystem, plankton biodiversity, and fish stocks." In addition, both NASA and ESA (European Space Agency) are interested in using it, as being in such a small space for an extended period of time with a bunch of other geeky scientists is just like being on the space station. Furthermore, leaving the rig from the bottom to fix the hull or install new modules is very similar to going on a space walk to fix a ship, only with more fish and whales and stuff around. Only a scale model of the Sea Orbiter has been built so far, but plans are underway to create the full ship and set it afloat in the near future.
Sea Orbiter, via Neatorama
By karettop23 at 10:55 AM ON 07/12/06
I think the station is cool.Futuristic indeed.
By mc129 at 5:24 PM ON 07/12/06
If the sea orbitor is moved around by wind and sea currents only,how does it navigate through shallow areas with that much of it under water.Looks massive,it is very hi tech looking.Has a flow about it.But since there are no specifications in the article and looking at the whales comparison,it could only stay in fairly deep water.Would love to live on it for awhile
By ShadowChild at 8:05 PM ON 07/12/06
Im wondering how it stays upright. It seems to me a bit topheavy, like it might fall over if the wind hit it from the back. How would it catch the wind? I dont see any sails. They really expect that thing to catch enough wind to counteract the currrents in the water? The top gets blown one way, the bottom gets pushed the other, then what? Interesting, futuristic, but frankly Ill believe it when I see it.
By sburner at 6:31 AM ON 07/13/06
I think the people who built this station knew what they were doing so the things like "how it's gonna catch the wind" or "it might tip over" are pointless to debate. The station reminds me of a spaceship from the computer game Homeworld :)
By sunnyjay at 10:27 AM ON 07/14/06
Very interesting concept, thanks for enlightening us. You can however refrain from caracterizing scientists as 'geeky'. They are probably just as 'hip, slick, and cool' as you are!
By joseis691 at 11:35 PM ON 06/17/09
Is there an dupdat n this project's completion?
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