Blue Abyss to open world’s largest extreme environment research center in Ohio
Blue Abyss is opening the largest-ever extreme environment training center in the city of Brook Park, Ohio. CEO John Vickers recently announced that the company purchased 12 acres of land next to the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, near the NASA Glenn Research Center to house the facility.
This groundbreaking test facility’s plans feature a deep-sea pool that reaches 50m in depth. The pool is designed to be larger than 17 Olympic swimming pools, making it the largest, deepest pool in the world.
The Blue Abyss facility will also feature a hotel and end-to-end astronaut training facilities with the latest technology: microgravity simulation suites, parabolic flight and centrifuge training, and hypo and hyperbaric chambers. This offers a unique opportunity to experience space exploration without ever leaving Earth.
The extensive facilities make subsea and space research possible at the same location. Blue Abyss, a British company partnering with the state of Ohio, aims to further the human spaceflight sector, offshore energy development, and robotics with the ability to explore the seafloor and more.
While a similar facility is being built in Cornwall in the United Kingdom, there’s been a delay in the England completion. The Northeast Ohio facility is on track to be finished in 2026, making it the first of its kind.
What It Means For Ohio
Ohio has always been at the forefront of advancing travel and exploration. Not only is it the birthplace of aviation but it is also home to a ground-breaking vehicle testing center. More astronauts have come from Ohio than any other state, so it makes sense that Cuyahoga County would be the perfect home for the Blue Abyss’s state-of-the-art extreme environment training center.
Alongside the Ohio Aerospace Institute and the NASA Glenn Research Center, Ohio was already a powerhouse of space exploration research. The new center promises to further this lead and secure Ohio’s place as the heart of subsea tech development.
The Blue Abyss facility is poised to drive technology, job growth, and collaboration between international experts, the Ohio Aerospace Institute, and NASA Glenn Research Center. The influx of talent and investment promised by the facility enhances not only Ohio’s reputation and economy but also educational opportunities for local students.
With the Blue Abyss location stationed at the heart of the state, Ohio is sure to become a leader in extreme exploration and home to the most curious minds in the nation.
