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Friday, October 11, 2019

How to Survive-Research Station Living Under the Sea


How to Survive-Research Station Living Under the Sea

Introduction
In Shark Station, the actual station isn’t discussed to the level that Oceania was in Oceania: The Underwater City. So, to compensate for that, I will be sharing with you the literal guide to surviving a stay at Shark Station Research Base. This is the guide given to all research personnel choosing to stay at Shark Station to conduct research. It is read to them while they are docking in the docking bay of the station and will give you insight into what the station offers and how living on it is different than living in Oceania. I hope you enjoy!

Basic Introduction
Welcome to Shark Station, this guide will prepare you for deep-sea station living. In our spacious 222,000 square-foot research facility, you will find a hydroponic lab large enough to feed the entire station, a full kitchen-cafeteria, an exercise room, science labs, moon pools, and an adequate and functional sleeping quarters. A fully sustainable system, Shark Station can support up to 50 scientists for over half a decade without outside aid. Living on Shark Station will be different than the life you’re used to in Oceania. Allow me to highlight some of the differences and how you will have to adapt to life on the station.

*Since Oceania uses the metric system, scroll to the bottom to see US units of measurement conversions for each metric one with a superscript next to it.

Environment
Shark Station lies 4,420m(1) below the earth’s surface. The pressure outside the station is 44,530.4 kPa(2). The internal pressure of the station is maintained at 1 atm. The interior temperature of the station is kept at a comfortable 21.1°C(3), while the outside is a frigid 3.9°C(4). Only the hydroponic chamber has an adjustable thermometer to allow for the adjustment of temperature suitable for the plants growing inside.

Duties on the Station
While aboard Shark Station, you will be required to perform a duty relative to your field of expertise in addition to your personal research. For example, if your specialty is marine biology or biochemistry, you may be appointed a food inspector to assess the quality of the fish caught to be eaten by the crew. If botany is your specialty, you will be in charge of maintaining the plants for food on the station. The station can only run properly if everyone is involved in its operation. The robotic staff is only for basic support, cleaning, and minor cooking of meals. They are solely not enough to run the station when humans are present.

Food Safety Protocol
All food on Shark Station is grown on the station itself in the hydroponic chambers, caught from outside the station, or brought from Oceania either dried or frozen until consumption. It is your duty and the duty of the onboard food inspector to assure that any and all fish caught outside of the station is safe for human consumption. No endangered species are permitted to be consumed and neither are any animals high in mercury or other toxic poisons to the human body. If no food inspector has been assigned due to no present staff being qualified to be the food inspector, one of the robotic staff will be appointed the food inspector.

Health Safety Protocol
Each stay at Shark Station requires a crewmember with medical experience and knowledge. They will be the head medical personnel and responsible for the health of the entire crew. They have the authority to name anyone their proxy in case they fall ill. It will be their job to see to any injuries sustained while on the station or outside it. They are also in charge of testing the water quality and air quality of the station. All water is recycled throughout the station similar to Oceania and the air must be purified and tested daily. If you notice any abnormalities, you are to notify the head medical personnel immediately.

Rules of the Station
Rules of the station are as follows:
All crew members are to be treated with respect; no inappropriate behavior allowed.
No stealing of food or storage equipment is allowed.
All lab equipment must be cleaned and maintained after each use.
No personal belongings are allowed to be left on the station after the departure of a crewmember.
All common areas are to be kept clean at all times and every crew member is expected to clean up behind themselves in these areas.
Sleeping quarter rooms are the personal space of the occupant, no one is allowed to enter any of the rooms without the permission of the occupant.
Moon pool doors are only to be operated and used for scientific purposes only. The moon pools are not to be used as swimming pools.
All hydroponics must be overseen by a qualified crewmember.
Maintenance and support systems rooms are off-limits to non-essential personnel
Only personnel with appropriate skills in robotic engineering are allowed to tamper with robotic staff.
For a complete list of rules, please review the file that was just sent to your communication device.

Conclusion
Enjoy your stay at Shark Station, may your research go as intended and many new discoveries be made. Remember to disembark with caution.

Conversions to US Units of Measurements
(1) 14,500 feet
(2) 6,458.6 psi
(3) 70°F
(4) 39°F




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