Render of UHAB-3

UHAB is the next-generation underwater habitat enabling unprecedented aquatic science and astronaut training

Since the dawn of space travel, astronauts have trained underwater

Astronaut training underwater

This decade we will reach the Moon & Mars

Astronaut on the moon

UHAB will prepare this generation of astronauts

Astronaut training underwater
Astronauts training underwater

Astronaut training

Staying underwater is the closest feeling to being in space, and provides the most realistic environment to train astronauts. Underwater habitats provide insights into the physical and psychological challenges faced by astronauts

Microscopic marine organisms

Marine science

Less explored than outer space, Earth's oceans are vital, producing over 50% of our oxygen and playing a key role in climate regulation and ecosystem health. UHAB-3 will revolutionize marine research with its advanced seabed laboratory.

Divers on the seabed

On the seabed

Located directly on the seabed, UHAB-3 enables unique risk management training for astronauts, mirroring the challenges in space. It also significantly enhances marine research by extending bottom time for scientists without the need for daily decompression, providing insights into environmental preservation and climate change. Its mobility allows for strategic placement, and optimizing research opportunities.

Sebastian in front of Lunark habitat

Unique insights
& Experience

Drawing on Sebastian Aristotelis' invaluable experiences, including a 48-hour underwater stay in UHAB-1 and a 100-day expedition in Northern Greenland with the LUNARK habitat. Under the leadership of Sebastian, SAGA has constructed four advanced space habitats in the harshest remote climates on Earth, and recently sent a payload to space on the International Space Station

Sebastian Aristotelis
Co-founder | Lead architect
Linedrawing of UHAB-3 placed on seabed
Deployment Topology
Proposed placement of the habitat with umbilical buoy and mission control illustrated.

Introducing UHAB-3

A next-generation human habitat designed for the new space era, leveraging breakthroughs in digital fabrication, artificial intelligence, and sensor technology to create a healthy living space in extreme environments

Size
20m²
Crew
4 people
Depth
30m
Mission duration
1 month
Decompression
Inside
Life support (ECLSS)
Umbilical
  1. 1. 270 degree viewing dome
  2. 2. Workstation
  3. 3. Vertical farm
  4. 4. Decompression door
  5. 5. Moon pool

Habitat Features

Autonomous operation

By integrating sensors throughout the habitat and its hull, alongside predictive maintenance and off-grid renewable energy, operations become more autonomous. This reduces the need for a large support crew and lowers operational costs.

Off-Grid Capability

Powered by a solar buoy with a renewable energy system, UHAB-03 boasts extensive operational autonomy, ensuring sustained research and living conditions.

Advanced Laboratory

Equipped with a compact state-of-the-art underwater science lab, UHAB-3 supports comprehensive research. The habitat also features extensive broadcasting capabilities for global collaboration.

Stimulating Interior Design

The habitat's dynamic interior includes multifunctional furniture, a shower, and private sleeping areas, enhanced with personalized lighting and thermal systems for ultimate comfort in cold waters.

Digital Fabrication

UHAB-3 incorporates large 3D-printed metal components, realized through collaboration with MX3D, to achieve structurally optimized shapes. The interior, predominantly crafted from 3D-printed composite polymers, is ingeniously designed to expand living space efficiently.

Mobility

UHAB-3 is engineered for mobility, designed to be easily deployed and operate in a variety of settings. Its compact and flexible structure facilitates easy transportation and deployment.

A window looking out at the lunar surface

We are building the next generation lunar habitat

A window looking out at the underwater world

To train the future of astronauts & scientists

Real world data

UHAB-3 is set to be deployed at key underwater locations, serving dual roles in marine research and astronaut training.

Real World Data

UHAB-3 is set to be deployed at key underwater locations, serving dual roles in marine research and astronaut training.

Arctic Endurance

Engineered for resilience, UHAB-3 is tailored to thrive in Earth's coldest waters, enabling critical research in the most frigid environments.

Frontiers of Climate Study

Embedded in changing ecosystems, UHAB-3 is at the forefront of studying the impacts of climate variability underwater.

Why underwater for space training?

What do the bottom of a blue ocean and the surface of a Red Planet have in common? Both are extreme and dangerous environments and cause real stress. To thrive and not just survive in these environments, well-being and indoor climate plays a crucial role in our architecture.

no air
extreme temperatures
isolation
pressure differential
hypothermia
darkness
restricted mobility
realistic danger
simulated microgravity
eva training

Roadmap

How we are getting there and when.

UHAB-1: PILOT HABITAT

2023

UHAB-1 marked the completion of our initial phase by constructing and successfully testing the smallest functional underwater habitat. It underwent a 48-hour trial at a 7-meter depth in Copenhagen Harbour in 2023, where its life support and environmental control systems were effectively validated. This project, in collaboration with MIT and SDU, has been thoroughly documented in a study and white paper available for further reading.

UHAB-2: HIGH FIDELITY MOCKUP

2024

We're creating a high fidelity mockup of the final habitat on land, engaging in a comprehensive 20-day validation mission with a four-person crew. This phase includes extensive psychological and physiological evaluations, conducted in partnership with MIT, as well as ergonomic and architectural studies. UHAB-2 will later serve as a dedicated training facility for the final habitat's crew.

UHAB-3: OPERATIONAL HABITAT

2027

By 2027, UHAB-3 will be a fully operational habitat designed for four-member crews, complete with a mission control unit. It's set for an inaugural long-duration mission in some of the Earth's coldest oceans, marking a significant milestone in underwater living and research capabilities.

UHAB-2 Status

ergonomic study
UHAB-2 will undergo a detailed ergonomic study to ensure the habitat is optimized for human comfort and efficiency, focusing on lab work, space utilization, and crew well-being.
display model
Serving as a tangible display model, UHAB-2 will showcase the habitat's design and features, allowing stakeholders to visualize and engage with the project's progress.
mobile training facility
As a mobile training facility, UHAB-2 will provide hands-on training opportunities for crews, preparing them for the challenges of underwater living and mission-specific tasks.
on shore missions
Starting in 2024, UHAB-2 will host on-shore missions, simulating real-life scenarios to test operational readiness and crew dynamics in controlled environments.

Designed, built,
tested in-house

The entire habitat, from the first idea to the final bolt, has been designed and built in our studio and workshop in Copenhagen.

We've done it before

For six years, we've been designing, constructing, and testing habitats and hardware tailored for the most extreme environments on Earth and in space.

Mars lab
2019
First expanding habitat
Negev desert
Lunark moon habitat
2020
100 days in isolation
Northern Greenland
Rosenberg space habitat
2022
First training space habitat
Switzerland
Circadian light for ISS
2023
First payload to space
International Space Station (ISS)
Image of Marius Bendsen
Operating the UHAB was a real rush. It felt like diving into deep waters, not just with the UHAB itself, but with everything involved.
Marius Bendsen
Senior Developer, sAGA

Research

RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES

UHAB-3 combines a marine laboratory and a manned exploration platform, offering space researchers a practical setting for technology and procedure trials. It features a versatile payload rack for plug-and-play experiments, catering to various power needs and ethernet connectivity. An open call will soon invite academia and industry to contribute experiments. Payload examples are: on space exploration, controlled environment horticulture, or additive manufacturing, with selections based on scientific merit and relevance. Participants are tasked with developing and transporting their payloads to Copenhagen, while SAGA oversees installation and operations.

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