Tuesday, January 14, 2014

SeaOrbiter: Space Station of the Sea

I would like to tell you about a project that I imagined thanks to the influence of legendary explorers such as Jacques-Yves Cousteau and Jacques Piccard. Indeed, this project is placing exploration of the still widely unknown aquatic realm at the center of its concerns. This project is called SeaOrbiter and it is the culmination of 30 years of innovative research and work based on bionic architecture inspired by marine forms and a concern for sustainable development.

SeaOrbiter is an exploration vessel as well as a scientific laboratory dedicated to the discovery of the underwater world and the education around sustainable development applied to the ocean.


Weighing in at approximately 500 tons of recyclable aluminum, the semi-submersible SeaOrbiter will drift silently across the ocean, aided by a small propulsion system, and support the crow’s nest and the suite of communications systems that will allow the team to broadcast their adventures live.


The Eye of the SeaOrbiter will be 18 meters (59 ft) high above the surface of the sea, with the overall vessel measuring 58 meters (190 ft). It will support the crow’s nest and the suite of communications systems that will allow the team to broadcast their adventures live. Life aboard, explorations, discoveries, and great scientific advancements will all be documented through the Eye’s technological prowess.

In order for the project to become a reality, we launched in November 2013 a crowdfunding campaign on KissKissBankBank to finance the construction of the ‘Eye’ of the vessel, to start in spring 2014.


The ocean is the heart of the solar system. It is at once the motor and the lungs of our planet. We must reinstate the ocean as the center of our daily lives. We want to make way for a new global socio-economic model which integrates the ocean in a responsible, sustainable manner, as the principal source of innovation and solutions. Medicine, nutrition, pharmacology, renewable energy-- the SeaOrbiter can help us improve these for the betterment of our planet.


Thanks to the help of the public, we rely on all sea lovers, adventure and innovation enthusiasts to help us build SeaOrbiter. Each contribution counts; support SeaOrbiter on KissKissBankBank and follow the project on Twitter @Sea_Orbiter.

Photo credits: SeaOrbiter® / Jacques Rougerie


Contributed by

Jacques Rougerie
Architect
SeaOrbiter
Paris, France