The source details the successful demonstration of the Ocean Space Habitat®, a portable, inflatable structure allowing divers to stay overnight underwater during a May 2023 test conducted within the University of Arizona's Biosphere 2 facility. Co-invented by Michael Lombardi and Dr. Winslow Burleson, the habitat provides a relatively dry, protected space for researchers to rest and work. This technology offers a paradigm shift by leveraging technical diving methods to create an inexpensive and lightweight alternative, moving away from the massive infrastructure and high operational costs associated with traditional saturation diving and fixed habitats. By pairing the habitat with advanced life support, researchers can extend missions from a few hours to multiple days, enabling more thorough study akin to an underwater backpacking excursion. During the demonstration, the team successfully collected and processed genomic samples, confirming the system’s utility as a mobile science station. Ultimately, this capability is intended to mobilize trained "Aquanauts" to access complex environments requiring dexterous human manipulation that robots cannot provide.

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