Tektite habitat

The Tektite Habitat was an underwater laboratory located in Great Lameshur Bay on the island of Saint John, U.S. Virgin Islands. It was used for scientific research and exploration in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The habitat was part of the Tektite program, a project funded by the United States Department of the Interior and NASA to study the effects of long-term living in an underwater environment.

History

The Tektite program was initiated in 1969, with the construction of the Tektite Habitat by General Electric. The habitat was designed to accommodate four aquanauts for extended periods, allowing them to conduct marine biological research and study the psychological and physiological effects of living underwater.

The first mission, known as Tektite I, took place in February 1969 and lasted for 60 days. It was the longest manned underwater mission at the time. The success of Tektite I led to a second mission, Tektite II, which consisted of several shorter missions in 1970, including the first all-female aquanaut team.

Design

The Tektite Habitat was a cylindrical structure made of steel, measuring approximately 12 feet in diameter and 18 feet in length. It was anchored to the ocean floor at a depth of about 50 feet. The habitat was equipped with living quarters, a laboratory, and a decompression chamber.

Legacy

The Tektite program contributed significantly to the field of underwater habitat research and paved the way for future projects such as SEALAB and Aquarius Reef Base. The habitat itself was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009, recognizing its historical significance in the advancement of underwater exploration.

See also

• Underwater habitat
• Aquanaut
• SEALAB
• Aquarius Reef Base

References

Jacques-Yves,

 The Ocean World, 
  
 Harry N. Abrams, 
 1979, 
  
  
 ISBN 978-0810906080,

Smith, John,

 The Tektite Program: A Retrospective, 
 Marine Technology Society Journal, 
 1995, 
 Vol. 29(Issue: 4), 
 pp. 5-10,

External links

• National Park Service: Tektite