aquarius

I am not talking about the 1969 song by the Fifth Dimension sung by Melba Moore. If Levi Dowling (1844-1911) is correct,as he said, "This age will be an age of splendor and of light, because it is the home of the Holy Breath; and the Holy Breath will testify anew for Christ, the Logos of the eternal Love."

Most people will write off the whole concept because it speaks of a New Age, and many have been taught to be afraid of that word- and the rainbow (they're New Age as well you know). There's a lot of speculation as to just when this new age of Aquarius begins- or has it already? Dates and theories run from 1967 to 2150. The flower children of the 60's pick 1967 while many astrologers pick 2150 believing that Jesus was born and ushered in the age of Pisces (how else did we get the sign of the fish?).

Now we're definitely getting freaky aren't we! :-)

According to astrologers, our universe is divided into twelve sections: the signs of the zodiac. It takes the earth approximately 26,000 years to make the trip around the universe. It's a pretty big place you know. So, there is roughly 2,156 years in each section. As we look at the sun, it appears to be in one of those twelve segments for about 2,156 years as a back drop. We've been in Pisces and are now headed to Aquarius.

Many feel the Age of Aquarius heralds the coming of the end of times as written in the Bible, others feel it is the dawning of the "new world order". Whatever it means, it is still mysterious, and opinions differ widely in the astrological community. Does anyone know the exact date? Doubtful when considering 26,000 years.

So why did the Mayans pick 2012? Good question.

Whatever the exact date, we're moving close to the Age of Aquarius where everything becomes unified. All our differences and all of our dualities end! I say let's do it now! Why wait for some artificial or official date? The advantages that come with the concept of Aquarius should be enjoyed NOW!

Agree?

The Sun is given the most credit when it comes to the zodiac. It is the information people give out when someone else asks "what's your sign?" But the other planets of the zodiac have importance that shouldn't be thrown away. Mercury influences how a person thinks and how that is portrayed to the outside world. Learning, communication and expression are all housed here. It also dictates whether a person moves through life with a strong sense of direction or a tendency to detour.

Those who were born with their Mercury in Aquarius have detached, abstract and inventive minds that are prone to great washes of insight. Rapid thinkers, their thoughts travel constantly and in a rather disorganized fashion. Instead of coming in as a clear picture, ideas are like the dots in a pointillism painting that only make sense when the whole is put together. But there is logic to the thoughts, however chaotic their arrival may be. That logic is often lost on others who deem this person to be eccentric- until their "odd" ways turn out to have been correct.

Progressive, they often behave in a nontraditional fashion just to make waves and see what will happen to everyone in the water when it has settled. Revolutionary ideas and causes will draw this person's interest and often their very vocal support. What keeps these people from being simple anarchists is their keen intuition and judgment of character. Their belief in fairness and balance seeps into how they judge others- on merit alone. The poor and downtrodden will find a friend in those with their Aquarius in Mercury.

Quick witted and open minded to an extent, there can be times when they lock into a thought process and refuse to let go. Their mood can shift between introverted aloofness to extroverted sociability depending on the situation or their frame of mind. Because of this tendency to move back and forth, they tend to have trouble cementing their role in a group dynamic. Speaking comes most naturally to those with their Mercury in Aquarius when an issue or cause is being discussed. They are likely to be talented at writing on these subjects as well and may turn to a line of work that utilizes this ability.

Mercury in Aquarius can make it hard for a person to form a romantic partnership unless that partner is either incredibly understanding or cut from the same cloth. These people hate routine and the sense of being boxed in and will shun anything that resembles the death of freedom. That isn't to say that if they are allowed to roam away from home that they will be doing something they aren't supposed to. If monogamy has been established in the relationship, this person won't break that vow. They hold themselves (and everyone else) up to too high of a standard for that sort of behavior. Their partner may just have to share their mind and spirit with all of those souls that need help.

In an astrological chart, the planet Venus is associated with how a person expresses their self in their relationships- especially in love, attraction and marriage. It describes how beauty is appreciated and interpreted by the person and also how they relate to others. The sign of the Venus is often the same as the Sun since they can never be more than forty five degrees from each other. In the cases when the signs are identical, the behavior the person has towards people in general translates into their romantic life. If the signs are different, there is a disparity between how they treat people in general and how they treat people they are romantically involved with.

People that are born with their Venus in Aquarius have a calm, detached and somewhat cool attitude towards romantic relationships. They trust their own thoughts more than those of their friends, family or society. Accordingly, they can be somewhat eccentric in their social methods and behavior. But they are charming and can easily draw in friends that will genuinely like them and make them somewhat popular. Though they are friendly, they aren't prone to showing any true emotions. Friends are likely to have romantic feelings for them but they usually won't notice. They are somewhat detached and impersonal. Romantic gestures something they neither understand nor desire. If they do manage to express an emotion, it will be straightforward and like Haley's comet in its rarity.

If a romantic relationship does take hold in this person's life, it will often sneak up on them in an odd fashion then sneak off again in a similar way. For a long term partnership to take hold, their partner will have to be a friend before they become anything else. Friendship is the easiest way to gain access to those with their Venus in Aquarius since they are naturally a bit skeptical about the romance game but welcoming to friends. A partner needs to close in slowly since this person loves their freedom and will run for the door at the first sign they are about to be trapped. A partner's possessiveness will send them running like the building is on fire. And the Aquarian does not make it a habit to run back in the direction they just came from.

If they do marry, it will be later in life. They are so independent that it is hard for them to allow their partner to tell them what they can or cannot do. Fairly, they also have no real desire to tell their partner what they can or cannot do. The emotional games and manipulations often involved with dating and relationships won't have a home in this person's life. It is likely they will simply walk away when those aspects begin to rear their ugly heads. If their partner is able to behave in an honest, straightforward way and give the person with their Venus in Aquarius room to breathe, a long term relationship can be managed.

The eleventh sign of the zodiac is Aquarius. Those born between the dates of January 21st and February 19th bear this sun sign. It is symbolized by the Water Bearer whose equally weighted scales speak to the Aquarian love of balance and equality. Famous people who have this sign include John Travolta, Vanessa Redgrave and Joanne Woodward.

Aquarius people tend to be originally eccentric. They are strong thinkers and especially skilled at problem solving. Their approach to solutions may seem wild and radical, but when it works they are often seen as being a progressive mind. There is a rebellious nature here and a tendency to be outspoken.

Despite this rebel nature, they actually do make team players if they are given room to move around. They respect the ideas of others and are able to see (and separate) the greater good from personal agendas. Organized, critical and somewhat demanding they also make great team leaders. The Aquarius person will put more of their emotional self into their work than they do relationships.

They respond well to change and deal well with unexpected things that pop up along the way. Others peg them as unusual and they don't mind. They don't like routine but are the perfect person to find a new and better way of doing things. Issues like freedom, equality and fairness are important to them. Because of this, a progressive streak permeates their life. Although they may be involved in many humanitarian efforts, it is a detached, practical involvement rather than an emotional plea.

Aquarians care very deeply about their friends and are great at attracting them. They create a social circle filled with those that have common interests and ideas, relationships built on mental connections. They are not as skilled at forming romantic relationships due to their tendency to seem emotionally distant. There is also a fear of losing their independence.

Aquarians really have no aptitude for the games that are associated with dating. They like the truth and if they say something, they mean it. Self disciplined and true to their word, they can be devoted. But if they haven't yet said they will be faithful, they consider the field to be fair game. They have trouble understanding some of the more irrational emotions associated with love- like jealousy. There are too many problems in the world for the Aquarian to have time to deal with such petty things. If they become part of a relationship that is built on a mental connection, respect, friendship and honest communication they will be capable of great self sacrifice on behalf of the relationship.

The Aquarian mind is clear, logical and practical. This is not a person who will make a dramatic scene or a bold emotional display. But their quest for fairness and equality makes them an excellent partner since they are always willing to meet someone half way. They have a genuine interest in other people and make a fantastic friend, even if they will need a little assistance in becoming a great partner.

The Sun is the planet that zodiac novices are most interested in. But the moon is equally important in a chart. This planet relates to the world of emotions, including the nature embedded by nature, nurture and memory. It resides in the subconscious and deals with how a person relates to those around them. The characteristics in this sign might not be apparent to the person they refer to since they reside so deeply in the mind. Others are often better able to recognize these traits, as they are put out there into the world more than they are reflected upon.

A person with their Moon in Aquarius is eccentric, imaginative and progressive. It is hard to predict what this person will come up with next and they have the energy to put behind it. All of this imagination takes away from the practical side of their brain and can make it seem like there is a lack of common sense. But this person actually is fully aware of what is going on and though their methods seem unusual, they aren't done without thought. The methods behind their madness are usually only apparent to others after the task has already been carried out successfully.

These people are genuinely interesting and are great orators, allowing them to easily attract friends. But they hate for things to get boring and are apt to stir up a little trouble via confrontation just to keep things interesting. If they are taken for granted, or simply bored, they are likely to walk away from a relationship. This insensitivity combined with their stubborn and willful nature can make it hard to maintain relationships. A lack of equality is an absolute deal breaker. A friend or partner who tries to be possessive will be pushed away for good. This person doesn't like to have a lot of demands placed on their shoulders.

There is a detachment and impersonality that these people have towards their interactions with others. They can analyze and observe but emotional understanding is harder to come by. Friendliness is here in spades, but it is an aloof courtesy extended to all equally. These people care more about the big picture (like saving the world, or feeding the hungry) than the small (like telling a friend they are sorry their feelings were hurt). Even when they are made aware of this slight character flaw, they are unlikely to change it. The greater good is, after all, greater.

Those with their Moon in Aquarius don't put a lot of value in material possessions and having a physical home. Those things don't spell out security for them and it is common they will have few of either. It is easier to move about saving the world when the sack on your back isn't weighted down with trinkets. It is similarly difficult to get them to settle down in a relationship or a long term employment. There is a lot to see in this world, and people that need help, and so little time.

If you were born in the date range from January 21st through February 19th, have the Astrology sign of Aquarius the Water Bearer. As an Aquarius, you probably know your basic Horoscope, but did you know there are seventy two days every year that are lucky for you, just because of your sun sign? Just what are these lucky days?

===> Your Birth Date

In Numerology, your birth date is always a lucky day for you. You should always include your birth date your own list of lucky days. For example, TV talk show host Oprah Winfrey was born on January 29th, 1954, so she will add January 29th to her list of lucky days for January 2008.

===> Universal Days

Days when the Universal day number equals Life Path number are also lucky for you. The universe tends to support your actions on those days more then others. You can calculate your Life Path number by adding together your month, day, and year of birth, and then reducing the sum to a single digit by fadic addition. Oprah Winfrey's Life Path reduces to a four as shown below:

Life Path = (01 + 29 + 1954) = (1984) = (22) = (4).

So, now we can determine that January 2nd, 2008 will be a lucky day for Oprah Winfrey. The Universal Day number will be a four, which equals her Life Path number.

Universal Day (01/02/2008) = (01 + 2 + 2008) = (2011) = (4).

Note that you can short-cut this calculation by pre-calculating the Universal Month number, (1 + 2008) = (2), and then adding the day number, and reducing that result. (2 + 2) = (4).

===> Aquarius Calendar Dates

The following list of days are particularly lucky if you are an Aquarius:

For January: 1st, 5th, 9th, 10th, 15th, and the 20th.

For February: 2nd, 5th, 6th, 11th, 16th, and the 29th.

For March: 3rd, 6th, 7th, 10th, 17th, and the 30th.

For April: 4th, 5th, 10th, 20th, 23rd, and the 29th.

For May: 7th, 8th, 16th, 17th, 25th, and the 31st.

For June: 5th, 12th, 17th, 18th, 25th, and the 26th.

For July: 10th, 11th, 19th, 22nd, 23rd, and the 28th.

For August: 10th, 14th, 19th, 20th, 24th, and the 25th.

For September: 10th, 11th, 12th, 22nd, 29th, and the 30th.

For October: 1st, 3rd, 9th, 13th, 27th, and the 28th.

For November: 4th, 5th, 10th, 15th, 23rd, and the 28th.

For December: 7th, 8th, 13th, 21st, 25th, and the 27th.

Just about every two thousand years, the astrological age changes. The last change occurred when Christ was born, when we also entered the Age of Pisces. Now we find ourselves in the Age of Aquarius, the age of progress in various fields that we once considered being without a future.

Some people say that all the effects we are now facing, with all the progress we made in important fields of interest, are just effects of the upcoming Age of Aquarius. These effects are said to be felt anywhere between 500 and 800 years before we enter the new astrological age.

Nonetheless, we are facing growth in a lot of areas. Apart from computers, automobiles, airplanes and space travel, other fields of interest like astrology, alternative medicine and others, all of them once considered futureless, are now as common as if they were indulged thousands of years ago.

A person that symbolizes the progress of the Age of Aquarius is Derald George Langham. An American researcher, born in Polk City, Iowa, on a 160 acre farm, he developed an interest in plants and animals from an early age. Throughout his life his main occupation was as an agricultural geneticist, but he was also the founder of the Genesa foundation.

A common nickname for him is the ‘father of sesame’, because of all the helpful research in the field of sesame genetics. He is not so well known for his research with corn and beans, but the Rockefeller Institute in Mexico found a use for it, and now all the genes developed by Langham can be found in all the corn hybrids around the world.

In the 1950s he founded the Genesa foundation, which promoted various ideas and uses of Circle Gardening techniques. The name was obtained from a combination of ‘gene’ and the acronym of South America. He was also the one who promoted the use of the Genesa crystal.

A Genesa crystal consists of an eight point pattern which reflects an embryonic organism’s cells. This shape has been adopted by many jewelers in their designs, but if not crafted accurately and energized with meditation, then they are worthless.

According to Langham’s belief, the potential of the Genesa crystal to help people bond with the energies in their lives is infinite. He often stood in his garden, in a large Genesa crystal and meditated, because he felt he could tune into the plants’ biofields.

Even though the scientific community never accepted the supposed benefits of the crystals, and many think that it all belongs to pseudoscience, Langham was unflinching in his beliefs. He always stated that the power of the Genesa crystal could always help people reach their full potential of love, wisdom, energy, power, faith, as well as achieving their goals and desires.

If you are interested in Genesa crystal pendants, be sure to visit ka-gold-jewelry.com. This website also offers you complete information about how you can use it as an energy purifier. You will also find jewelry representations of a lot more symbols of the Age of Aquarius and all of them are handmade, using the finest materials and afterwards subdued to the energizing process mentioned afore.

If your birth date falls in the range of January 21st through February 19th, you were born under the sun sign of Aquarius the Water Bearer. You probably know your Horoscope, but did you know that Numerology shows us a particular behavior for Aquarius based on your specific Date of Birth? We can find out this modifier by calculating your Birth Day number.

===> Birth Day Calculation

Your Birthday number is the date of the month you were born on, reduced to a single digit by fadic addition. For example, TV talk show host Oprah Winfrey was born on January 29th, 1954, so her Birthday number is (2) as shown below.

Birthday = (Day part of your birth date) = (29) = (2 + 9) = (11) = (2)

The Birth Day number values, and their affects on your Aquarius Horoscope are shown below.

===> Birth Day (1) - Pioneer

You want to take control of your own life, blazing a trail for others to follow or not as they choose. You hate to rely on anyone else for anything. You are full of bold ideas and fascinated with new trends and ideas. Early on, you are somewhat naïve about politics and fair play. Later in life, you've learned these lessons, and work to change the way things are.

===> Birth Day (2) - Caring

You take interest in the fortunes of other people around you. You are very compassionate about their troubles, and will go out of your way to lend a hand in need, or a shoulder to cry on.

===> Birth Day (3) - Reformer

You believe that enlightened people can change the world. You are probably a supporter of reform movements and organizations such as amnesty international.

===> Birth Day (4) - Egotist

You are a good person, but when the chips are down, you always act in your own self-interest. You don't mid helping out under normal circumstances, but don't let anyone get between you and the Life boats when the ship is going down.

===> Birth Day (5) - Curiosity

You aren't nosy per say; just extremely curious about what makes people tick. You don't care about things so much, just people.

===> Birth Day (6) - Low Self-esteem

You tend to lack confidence in yourself. Work on overcoming this by taking on smaller task you know you can achieve. Self-confidence can be developed.

===> Birth Day (7) - Intellectual

You have a powerful intellect which you should develop and use. Learning to channel you intellectual gifts will bring you happiness and self satisfaction.

===> Birth Day (8) - Secretive

You tend to be very secretive with your knowledge and ideas, refusing to share them with other people. Learn to be more free with your knowledge, and you will be rewarded.

===> Birth Day (9) - Odd Ball

You are somewhat contrary and perverse in your dealings with other people. They find you eccentric; while you find them boring and uninteresting.

Using the tropical zodiac system people born between January 20th and February 19th are known by their Sun Sign Aquarius the Water Carrier and are associated with the constellation Aquarius. The Element of the Aquarius sign is Air and the color of Aquarius is Turquoise. The starstone of Aquarius is Turquoise and the astrological symbol for Aquarius represents waves of water. The Sun Sign opposite of Aquarius the Water Carrier is Leo the Lion and the metals of the Aquarius sign are brass and platinum. Aquarius is ruled by the Planet Saturn and is defined as a masculine-positive extroverted sign. Aquarius is the eleventh sign of the zodiac and the quality of Aquarians is fixed.

The traits and characteristics most commonly attributed to Aquarians are loyal friendship and honesty and they are also known for their inventive and intellectual abilities. Generally speaking the people of the Aquarius sun sign are often easygoing and humanitarian with a playful free spirited outlook. They are also energetic and trend setting with a progressive open minded attitude. The Aquarius people work well in a group and can be patient and tolerant. Aquarians can also be stubborn and rebellious with an unpredictable
and undependable nature. They can also be self centered and overly judgmental with an aloof air about them as they consider themselves to be members of the elite. Aquarians appreciate friendship but can be jealous and narrow minded.

The following is a list of some famous celebrities of the Aquarius sun sign.

Evangeline Adams - February 8, 1868 - Astrologer and co-author of The General Principles of Astrology

Edwin Buzz Aldrin - January 20, 1930 - Astronaut, the second man to set foot on the Moon

Corazon Aquino - January 25, 1933 - President of the Philippines from 1986 to 1992

John Belushi - January 24, 1949 - Emmy Award winning actor, comedian and musician

Jack Benny - February 14, 1894 - December 26, 1974 - Legendary comedian

Lewis Carroll - January 27, 1832 - January 14, 1898 - Author of Alice In Wonderland

Alice Cooper - February 4, 1948 - Musician and shock rocker

Charles Darwin - February 12, 1908 - April 19, 1882 - Author of On the Origin of Species and evolution

James Dean - February 8, 1931 - September 30, 1955 - live fast, die young, leave a good looking corpse

Morgan Fairchild - February 3, 1950 - Actress and soap opera star

Bridget Fonda - January 27, 1964 - Actress, Golden Globe and Emmy Award nominated

Galileo Galilei - February 15, 1564 - January 8, 1642 - Scientist, mathematician and astronomer

Matt Groening - February 15, 1954 - Cartoonist. Creator of The Simpsons and Futurama

Paris Hilton - February 17, 1981 - Famous because she is Paris Hilton

Michael Jordan - February 17, 1963 - Super star basketball player

James Joyce - February 2, 1882 - January 13, 1941 - Author of the classic novel Ulysses

Jennifer Jason Leigh - February 5, 1962- Award winning actress

Charles Lindbergh - February 4, 1902 - August 26, 1974 - Lucky Lindy fist to fly solo across the Atlantic

Paul Newman - January 26, 1925 - Talented actor and salad dressing chef

Ernst Mach - February 18, 1838 - February 19, 1916 - Physicist, the speed of sound is named after him

General Douglas MacArthur - January 26, 1880 - April 5, 1964 - I shall return

John McEnroe - February 16, 1959 - Temperamental tennis player

Yoko Ono - February 18, 1933 - Artist and Japanese Beatle, wife of John Lennon

Jackson Pollock - January 28, 1912 - August 11, 1956 - Abstract painter with an unorthodox style

Lisa Marie Presley - February 1, 1968 - Singer songwriter daughter of Elvis Presley

Ronald Reagan - February 6, 1911 - June 5, 2004 - 40th President of the United States

Burt Reynolds - February 11, 1936 - Film and television personality

Admiral Hyman Rickover - August 24, 1898 - July 8, 1986 - Father of the Nuclear Navy

John Travolta - February 18, 1954 - Actor and Scientology Dianetics buff

Oprah Winfrey - January 29, 1954 - Host of The Oprah Winfrey Show

As you can see from this list if you were born under the Aquarius sun sign you are in good company.

From ancient times, people have started to make various correlations between what happens in their lives and the stars in the sky. Although skeptics can be found just about everywhere, many people today still believe that there is a link between us and those lights that cover the sky every night.

An astrological age occurs due to the precession of the equinoxes. This phenomenon consists of the change in the Earth’s axis’ direction. This implies a different position of our planet on its orbit around the sun at the time of the solstices and equinoxes. The change is about one degree every 72 years, and is considered to have a direct influence on the duration of an astrological age.

The two astrological ages that we are facing are the Age of Pisces and the Age of Aquarius. Opinions concerning this aspect vary. As some people say, we are a long way before we enter the Age of Aquarius, while others state that we are already in it.

The Age of Aquarius is characterized by a lot of things. Among them we can include technological progress and inventions in basically every area like medicine, communication, the progresses in the automobile and airplane industry and many others.

It is also believed that in the Age of Aquarius we will reach the point of knowing universal fraternity. As we move on from the Age of Pisces, during which the courses of our lives followed a path mostly dictated by religious authorities, we enter the new astrological age and embrace a new course. This course is guided by progress as it was presented afore.

I mentioned earlier that the opinions concerning the start of the new astrological age are different. The people that consider we have already entered the Age of Aquarius state that it has began in 1997, on January 23rd. Drawing a map by Jerusalem for that time, a perfectly aligned Star of David is obtained. No one can really point their finger on what this means, but it is impressive nonetheless.

Another geometric symbol, closely related to the Star of David, actually a three-dimensional representation of this symbol, is the Merkaba. As it is with most symbols, they are believed to have special powers and various benefits for the wearer.

Using the Merkaba for healing purposes is common practice nowadays. People struggle with their lives and it is common sense to turn to the unseen when all the physical solutions have reached a standstill. How can you start using the Merkaba for healing?

Well, for instance, offering a pendant shaped as the Merkaba is a good start. But you shouldn’t buy them from the gypsies around the corner. Using the Merkaba for healing involves a special energizing process obtained through deep meditation, which cannot be found there.

If you are interested in buying a pendant submitted to this kind of process, then you should consider visiting the website ka-gold-jewelry.com. Here you will also find all the benefits that can be obtained if you start using the Merkaba for healing.

The only underwater laboratory in the world is located in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. This underwater lab is located more than three miles offshore at a depth of 63 feet. It is attached to a base plate which secures the laboratory about 13 feet off the bottom of the sea. The laboratory is known as Aquarius and is owned as a joint venture between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the University of North Carolina.

Scientists live and work inside the habitat when they are not exploring outside on the adjacent coral reefs. Entry to the module is through the "wet porch," which contains an open moon pool, dive equipment storage areas, hot water heater, and shower. There are two main compartments in the Aquarius module. The "entry lock" contains space for computers and experiments, power equipment, life support controls, small view ports, and bathroom facilities. The largest living space is in the "main lock" which is designed for a six-person crew. This area has computer work stations, two large view ports, and kitchen facilities. The kitchen facilities include a microwave, instant hot water dispenser, refrigerator, sink, dining, and work areas. The main lock also contains life support controls, so both the entry and main locks can be independently pressurized.

Since the early 1990s scientists have lived in the lab and explored the deep ocean in missions that can extend up to ten days in length. The laboratory is at a depth which requires 17 hours of depressurization for divers who stay down for more than a couple of hours. Scientists use a special technique called "saturation diving." Saturation diving refers to a condition involving a diver who is underwater for several hours. After this time, the diver's blood becomes saturated with gases. The diver will require the same amount of time for depressurization whenever he or she comes up to the surface.

Using Aquarius, the diver does not have to resurface and depressurize and can explore for days under water. Therefore, the module provides tremendous time savings for researchers. Scientists living in Aquarius can do work in days which would require weeks to accomplish if they had to dive from the surface. Research scientists usually stay for about 10 days in the Aquarius module doing research before they slowly return to the surface.

The scientists living in Aquarius have observed that life in the module is like living in an aquarium. Fish peer in every port hole and the adjoining coral reef is a habitat to many different varieties of fish. Aquarius is connected to the world above the ocean by a wire secured to the top of a 30-foot buoy on the surface that connects the laboratory to Key Largo. This connection allows the scientists to send an educational underwater video program of each mission across the Internet.

The laboratory has been home to close to 100 deep underwater missions since the early 1990s. The undersea lab's environment is very similar to conditions found on the International Space Station. This has provided NASA with a venue to do research about conditions involving moonwalks and to test concepts designed to be used in future space exploration.

During a recent mission, called NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations (NEEMO), participants practiced new long-distance medical techniques to keep space travelers healthy. Doctors thousands of miles away guided the aquanauts as they performed surgeries on a patient simulator. Also, doctors used virtual reality technology to guide simulated surgery by robots. The procedures simulated what one day may be used to respond to emergencies on the International Space Station, the Moon, or in long distance space flights to Mars. The aquanauts also walked on the ocean floor to simulate the lunar surface. This exercise used high-tech breathing helmets and weights to improve mobility and balance in conditions that were equivalent to the Moon's. NASA has also used Aquarius for astronauts to simulate living in the International Space Station.

Aquarius will continue to be a valuable research facility for NASA for the lunar and Mars missions in the years to come. In addition, Aquarius provides an important research venue to explore the mysteries of the undersea world on Earth. Indeed, the missions involving the Aquarius laboratory are providing the necessary research and experimentation for the conquest of man's next unexplored frontiers, under the sea and outer space.