About this property
The Neutral Buoyancy Simulator was a neutral buoyancy pool located at NASA's George C. Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC). The simulator was used from 1968 through its decommissioning in 1997. Marshall recognized the need for underwater simulations of extra-vehicular activities (EVAs) and developed three successively larger tanks for the purpose. The Neutral Buoyancy Simulator contributed significantly to the American crewed space program. Astronauts involved into Skylab, the Space Shuttle, Hubble Space Telescope, and the International Space Station missions trained in the facility. Until Johnson Space Center constructed the Weightless Environment Test Facility in the mid-1970s, MSFC had the only NASA-owned test facility that allowed engineers and astronauts to become familiar with the dynamics of body motion under weightless conditions. The water within the simulator was temperature controlled, continuously recirculated and filtered. Special systems were integrated into the tank for underwater audio and video, pressure-suit environmental control and emergency rescue and treatment. Life support was simultaneously provided by these systems for up to four pressure-suited subjects. Additional systems included data acquisition and recording, underwater lighting, special underwater pneumatic and electrical power operations of motor, valves, controls, and indicators that required for high fidelity and functional engineering mockups and trainers. Demolition of the Neutral Buoyancy Simulator began in mid-December 2025.
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Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).
Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
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Questions about this property
When was Neutral Buoyancy Space Simulator listed on the National Register?
Neutral Buoyancy Space Simulator was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 2, 1985.
What type of historic resource is Neutral Buoyancy Space Simulator?
Neutral Buoyancy Space Simulator is classified as a structure in the National Register of Historic Places.
Is Neutral Buoyancy Space Simulator a National Historic Landmark?
Yes. Neutral Buoyancy Space Simulator has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.
What is the period of significance for Neutral Buoyancy Space Simulator?
The period of significance for Neutral Buoyancy Space Simulator is recorded as the modern era, specifically around 1968.
Can I research the history near Neutral Buoyancy Space Simulator?
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