Gallery: Astronauts Explore Undersea 'Asteroid'

Astronauts Shannon Walker And Steve Squyers Collect Samples

NASA

Shannon Walker collects samples and stores them in her side pouch while her feet are secured to foot restraints on a large boom. Steve Squyers assists by maneuvering her on the boom.

Neemo 15 Science Team

NASA

The NEEMO 15 science team poses for a photo in front of the DeepWorker submarines. The team members represent multiple NASA centers, several government agencies, research organizations, and academia.

NASA NEEMO 15 Diver - Engineering Test

NASA

A NEEMO engineering crew diver simulates anchoring to an asteroid surface.

NEEMO 15 Simulated Asteroid Surface

NASA Analogs

A diver anchoring to a simulated asteroid surface created for NASA's underwater NEEMO 15 mission.

NEEMO 15 Crew At the End of Their Shortened Mission

NASA

Four members of the NEEMO 15 crew are pictured after they were forced to return to the surface on Oct. 26, 2011, six days ahead of schedule, due to safety concerns surrounding Hurricane Rina. From left to right: Japanese astronaut Takuya Onishi, Canadian astronaut David Saint-Jacques, NASA astronaut Shannon Walker, and planetary scientist Steve Squyres.

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