In the 1960's, the United States spent millions of dollars exploring two different realms: outer space, and the deep oceans. But today, only one of those programs is still around. Why do space colonies seem more likely than underwater cities? And what does it take to build a settlement on the sea floor?

Guests:

Ben Hellwarth, journalist and author of SEALAB: America's Forgotten Quest to Live and Work on the Ocean Floor

Jim Fourqurean, professor of Marine Science at Florida International University and the director of the Center for Coastal Oceans Research

Roger Garcia, operations director at Aquarius Reef Base

Katherine Sammler, assistant professor at California State University Maritime in the department of Global Studies & Maritime Affairs

Further Reading/Watching:

The Silent World

JFK's Moon Shot speech

JFK 1961 remarks on the ocean

JFK Address at the Anniversary Convocation of the National Academy of Sciences, 22 October 1963

SEALAB: America's Forgotten Quest to Live and Work on the Ocean Floor

To Tell The Truth featuring Bob Barth

I have lived underwater

Medina Aquarius Program

From the Ocean’s Abyss to the Vacuum of Space: Privatization in the Vertical Commons

National Governance Of Ocean Volumes

Subsuming the Submerged: Producing Seabeds as Political Territories.

Knowing the Abyss: Seeking Geographies of Ocean Space.

The Deep Pacific: Island Governance and Seabed Mineral Development.

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea

Credits:

Produced by me, Rose Eveleth.

The intro music: Asura

Outtro music: Hussalonia.

Voices of the future this episode: Stephen Granade and Andrea Klunder.

Episode art: Matt Lubchansky.

Get in touch at [email protected].

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