Veteran Canadian astronaut Robert Thirsk will replace
David Williams as the commander of NEEMO 7, the next “NASA
Extreme Environment Mission Operations” mission to the
undersea laboratory Aquarius.
The change in crew assignment is a result of a temporary
medical issue related to Williams’ qualification for this 11-
day saturation dive mission. To maintain medical privacy, no
further information about Williams’ condition will be made
public.
As a member of the NEEMO 7 backup crew, Thirsk has trained
alongside Williams for months. Thirsk joins astronauts
Catherine Coleman, Michael Barratt and Canadian surgeon Dr.
Craig McKinley for the mission, which will focus on remote
telemedicine experiments. The mission is set for Oct. 11-21
off the coast of Florida, near Key Largo.
“This is a temporary medical issue for Dave,” said Astronaut
Office Chief Kent Rominger. “Because we are very cautious in
our approach to crew health, we train backups for this kind
of situation.”
“Of course, I’m disappointed I won’t splash down for the
NEEMO 7 mission, but I understand the necessity of the
medical criteria that are in place for saturation diving,”
Williams said. “I know Bob will ensure all the NEEMO 7
objectives are met. I expect to return to full dive and
flight status in the near future and look forward to working
undersea on a future NEEMO mission,” he said.
For information about Williams and Thirsk, visit: http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/
