chapter 8 

 DESIGN OF THE SEALAB II HABITAT 



W. B. Culpepper 



U. S. Navy Mine Defense Laboratory 

 Panama City, Florida 



INTRODUCTION 



The Sealab II habitat served as an undersea habitat (250 ft maximum depth) for 28 aqua- 

 nauts for a period of 45 days (Fig. 22, 23). As such, it was equipped with the necessary life- 

 support equipment such as breathing- gas systems, air-conditioning systems, berthing, food- 

 stowage and preparation facilities, sanitary facilities, work space, and communication, and 

 electrical power, and lighting systems. It is capable of maintaining a positive buoyancy ade- 

 quate for surface tow. Water ballast is used to provide necessary negative buoyancy for low- 

 ering and to increase negative buoyancy for stability once it is placed on the sea bottom. 



Fig. 22. The kitchen and laboratory areas in the Sealab II habitat 



HULL 



General 



The hull for the Sealab II habitat was designed and fabricated in general accordance with 

 Fig. 24. It is 12 ft O J3., and 57 ft long with a semi-elliptic head at either end. The hull was 

 designed and fabricated in accordance with the ASME boiler code for unfired pressure vessels 

 and is capable of withstanding an internal working pressure of 125 psig. 



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