Exploration center opens

STENNIS SPACE CENTER, Miss. -- Mississippi State University's new Science and Technology Center here is now home of the country's seventh National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Exploration Command Center. The center, using "telepresence technology," enables research scientists at sea and colleagues on shore to simultaneously view live video streams from underseas. The MSU-led Northern Gulf Institute and NOAA's Office of Ocean Exploration and Research are coordinating the first use at Stennis of this technology. A key part of the effort is the Okeanos Explorer, the NOAA exploration flagship currently probing the floor of the Gulf of Mexico. Telepresence technology enables scientists aboard vessels to be in constant contact with others ashore through a combination of high-definition cameras and remotely operated underwater vehicles. The network includes an Internet-enabled intercom system for voice communication as the ship's remotely operated vehicles send a continuous stream of live video and data. (Source: MSU, 04/24/12)