A professional diver who turned his expertise in subsea decompression models toward the stars, Michael L. Gernhardt transitioned from deep-sea engineering to orbital exploration. Selected by NASA in 1992, he leveraged his unique background in bubble dynamics and pressurized environments to advance life support systems and the safety protocols required for complex extra-vehicular activities in space.
Early Education and Subsea Engineering
Born in 1956 in Mansfield, Ohio, Gernhardt graduated from Malabar High School before pursuing physics at Vanderbilt University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in 1978. His early professional career involved high-stakes underwater work; from 1977 to 1984, he logged over 700 deep-sea dives. While working on oil field construction, he completed a Master of Science and a Doctorate in Bioengineering at the University of Pennsylvania. His research focused on tissue gas bubble dynamics, directly informing the decompression tables he helped implement in the field. By 1988, he founded Oceaneering Space Systems to adapt subsea technologies for space station maintenance.
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Reporting to the Johnson Space Center in August 1992, Gernhardt served in technical roles, including flight software verification and crew support. He flew four space shuttle missions: STS-69 in 1995, STS-83 and STS-94 in 1997, and STS-104 in 2001. During these deployments, he accumulated over 43 days in space and performed four spacewalks. On STS-104, he facilitated the installation of the Quest joint airlock. Beyond shuttle operations, he functioned as a mission specialist and spacecraft communicator, consistently focusing on hardware reliability and EVA safety.
Analog Environments and Research
Gernhardt pioneered the use of underwater habitats to simulate extraterrestrial conditions through the NEEMO program. He acted as an aquanaut during the first NEEMO mission in 2001 and commanded NEEMO 8 in 2005. His work continued with the NEEMO 15 and 16 missions, where he operated the DeepWorker submersible to model the exploration of asteroids. Currently, he serves as a manager for the Environmental Physiology Laboratory and leads the Prebreathe Reduction Program, which develops protocols to improve the safety and efficiency of space walks for ISS crews.
Fast facts
- Born: 1956, Mansfield, Ohio
- Education: Vanderbilt University, University of Pennsylvania
- Selected as Astronaut: March 1992
- Total Spaceflights: 4
- Cumulative Time in Space: Over 43 days
- Total Spacewalks: 4
- Award: NASA Distinguished Service Medal (2002)
Questions readers ask
What is the focus of Gernhardt's current research at NASA?
He serves as the Principal Investigator of the Prebreathe Reduction Program, which aims to optimize space walk safety.
Did Gernhardt have a career before joining NASA?
Yes, he worked as a professional diver and engineer in the subsea oil industry, logging over 700 deep-sea dives.
Achievements
- Educated at University of Pennsylvania School of Engineering and Applied Science, Vanderbilt University and Malabar High School
- Worked as astronaut
