Editing SEALAB (section)

== SEALAB I ==
[[File:SEALAB I is lowered near Argus Island Tower in 1964.jpg|thumb|upright|SEALAB I being lowered off Bermuda in 1964]]

SEALAB I was commanded by Captain Bond,<ref name=":0">{{cite web| url=https://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/oceanography/where-have-all-aquanauts-gone-story-sealab.htm| title=Where Have All the Aquanauts Gone? The Story of Sealab| date=2019-03-06| website=HowStuffWorks| language=en| access-date=2019-03-20}}</ref> who became known as "Papa Topside". SEALAB I proved that saturation diving in the open ocean was viable for extended periods. The experiment also offered information about habitat placement, habitat umbilicals, humidity, and helium speech descrambling.<ref name=FaceplateMurray/>

SEALAB I was lowered off the coast of [[Bermuda]] on July 20, 1964 to a depth of {{convert|192|ft}} below the ocean surface. It was constructed from two converted floats and held in place with [[axle]]s from [[railroad car]]s. The experiment involved four divers (LCDR [[Robert Thompson (aquanaut)|Robert Thompson]], MC; Gunners Mate First Class [[Lester Anderson]], Chief Quartermaster [[Robert A. Barth]], and Chief Hospital Corpsman [[Sanders Manning]]), who were to stay submerged for three weeks. The experiment was halted after 11 days due to an approaching [[tropical storm]].<ref name=FaceplateMurray>{{cite magazine |first=John |last=Murray |title='Papa Topside', Captain George F. Bond, MC, USN |magazine =Faceplate |volume=9 |issue=1 |pages=8–9 |year=2005 |url=http://www.supsalv.org/pdf/faceplatefebruary2005.pdf |access-date=January 15, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207231048/http://www.supsalv.org/pdf/faceplatefebruary2005.pdf |archive-date=February 7, 2012}}</ref> SEALAB I demonstrated the same issues as Conshelf: high humidity, temperature control, and verbal communication in the helium atmosphere.<ref name=sul/>

The [[astronaut]] and second American to orbit the Earth, [[Scott Carpenter]], was scheduled to be the fifth aquanaut in the habitat. Carpenter was trained by Robert A. Barth. Shortly before the experiment took place, Carpenter had a scooter accident on Bermuda and broke a few bones. The crash ruined his chances of making the dive.<ref name="SeaDwellers">{{cite book |last=Barth |first=Bob |author-link=Robert A. Barth |year=2000 |title=Sea Dwellers – The Humor, Drama and Tragedy of the U.S. Navy SEALAB Programs |location=[[Houston, Texas]] |publisher=Doyle Publishing Company, Inc. |isbn=0-9653359-3-3}}</ref>

SEALAB I is on display at the [[Man in the Sea Museum]], in [[Panama City Beach, Florida]], near where it was initially tested offshore before being deployed. It is on outdoor display.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Florida |first=Man in the Sea Museum of Panama City Beach |title=Tour Exhibits |url=https://maninthesea.org/tour-exhibits/ |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=Man in the Sea Museum of Panama City Beach, Florida |language=en-US}}</ref> Its metal hull is largely intact, though the paint faded to a brick red over the years.<ref name=":2" /> The habitat's exterior was restored as part of its 50th anniversary, and now sports its original colors.<ref name=":3" />