Scientists know more about the surface of the moon and Mars than they do about our own seafloor. Which helps explain the grand vision of the French architect Jacques Rougerie, who’s designed an ocean-going laboratory.

[T]hanks to the French crowd-funding site KissKissBankBank, Rougerie and his team have raised $475,000 to begin construction of the orbiter’s eye later this year. If they can inspire deep-pocketed donors to fund the full amount — a big if, admittedly — they hope to finish the ship by the end of 2016.

One of the major innovations of the idea is the use of pressurized undersea residential quarters for part of the crew, allowing them to do away with decompression stops on return to the shit, something that would save huge amounts of time.

In addition, it would allow for certain types of space simulations and tests as well for deep space operational protocols and psychological studies.

Via Popular Science.