Astronaut Jeremy Hansen (left) swims outside FIU Aquarius in 2014. Hansen is one of two Artemis II astronauts who previously trained at Aquarius. Photo Credit: NASA

Before the moon, Artemis II astronauts trained at Aquarius

Science & Technology

By JoAnn Adkins

April 1, 2026 at 4:57pm

Before Artemis II lifted off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, two of its astronauts trained beneath the ocean at FIU’s Aquarius Reef Base.

Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman and Canadian Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen both trained and lived underwater as aquanauts at Aquarius, Wiseman in 2016 and Hansen in 2014. Now both men are about to orbit the moon along with NASA astronauts Victor Glover and Christina Koch.

Aquarius, the world's only underwater research laboratory, is located off the coast of Key Largo. In addition to being a significant resource for ocean research, Aquarius serves as a training ground for astronauts to simulate the isolation, confinement and operational challenges of spaceflight. Through NASA’s NEEMO (NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations) missions, crews live and work underwater for days at a time — testing equipment, conducting research and building the teamwork required for space exploration.

For FIU Aquarius operations director Hank Stark, working with astronauts is both routine and remarkable.

“It’s exciting. It’s always a unique opportunity to work with NASA and always interesting,” he said. “Going to space is something I think everyone dreams about at some point in their life.”

Aquarius Reef Base

For decades, Aquarius has been a temporary home for aquanauts to live and work underwater. Its existence allows scientists to bypass the crippling time limits of traditional scuba diving and immerse themselves in the mysteries of the ocean. In 2013, FIU assumed operational control and ownership of Aquarius, establishing the FIU Medina Aquarius Program. Today, the university is upgrading Aquarius with new technological advancements and developing plans for Aquarius II.

NASA astronauts swim outside FIU Aquarius Reef Base

Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman (lower left), along with other NASA and European Space Agency astronauts, swim outside FIU Aquarius during the NEEMO 21 training mission in 2016. Current Aquarius Operations Director Hank Stark (porthole left) also joined that mission. Photo Credit: NASA

Stark has spent years supporting NEEMO missions, helping astronauts acclimate to life in extreme environments. The experience goes beyond technical training.

“Training at Aquarius and saturating with these astronauts lets us get to know them on a personal level,” Stark said. “We’re living together underwater for a week or more."

That was the case for Stark and Wiseman in 2016 when Wiseman commanded NEEMO 21. Stark saturated with the NASA crew for the entire length of their underwater training mission.

"You spend a lot of time working together in the days leading up to a mission and then the guy is sleeping right above you for the next eight days or so," Stark said.

That close-quarters environment mirrors key aspects of space missions, where trust, communication and adaptability are critical.

For Stark, the Artemis II launch is a full circle moment and one he didn't want to miss. After a full day of work at Aquarius in the Florida Keys, he hopped in his car and headed north to Broward County with the hopes of catching a glimpse of Artemis II at liftoff.

Aquarius Reef Base is at the heart of FIU's Medina Aquarius Program in the Institute of Environment. It enables scientists to accelerate research on marine environments by living and working underwater for days and even weeks at a time. It’s also a technological training ground for NASA, the United States Navy and others.