UND to Build Neutral Buoyancy Facility in Altru Sports Complex Pool

The 20-foot deep dive tank will allow space studies students to simulate microgravity conditions for research and training.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 12:05pm

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A conceptual abstract illustration in the style of Hilma af Klint, featuring bold geometric shapes and sweeping curves in soft, earthy tones, representing the structural complexity and ordered nature of an underwater research facility designed to simulate microgravity conditions.The new neutral buoyancy facility at the Altru Sports Complex will give UND's space studies program a unique platform to simulate microgravity and advance research into the future of space exploration.Grand Forks Today

The University of North Dakota is partnering with the city of Grand Forks to build a neutral buoyancy facility as part of the new Altru Sports Complex pool. The 7-foot-deep, 18- by 36-foot dive tank will be constructed beneath the deep end of the pool, giving space studies students and researchers the ability to simulate microgravity conditions for experiments, testing, and training. The facility is expected to be completed later this year or early next year.

Why it matters

The neutral buoyancy facility will give UND's space studies program a unique advantage over other aerospace programs, as only a few universities in the country have access to similar facilities. It will allow students to visualize and test the effects of microgravity on spacecraft and habitat design, as well as provide opportunities for research, competitions, and potential collaborations with NASA and other space agencies.

The details

The neutral buoyancy facility will be built under the floor of the pool's deep end, providing a 20-foot deep area for research and training. At this depth, divers can safely stay underwater indefinitely with proper air supply, allowing them to simulate the effects of microgravity. The facility will have a wide range of potential uses, including testing lunar and Martian extravehicular activities, unmanned automated vehicles, and diver training.

  • The neutral buoyancy facility is expected to be completed later this year or early next year.
  • The Altru Sports Complex pool, which will house the facility, is scheduled to open a little before the rest of the complex is open to the public.

The players

UND Department of Space Studies

The University of North Dakota's academic program focused on space exploration, research, and education.

Keith Crisman

Assistant professor in the UND Department of Space Studies, with experience in scientific diving and a certified rescue diver.

Pablo de León

Chair of the UND Department of Space Studies, who has been working to get a neutral buoyancy facility for the university since joining in 2004.

Altru Sports Complex

A new sports and recreation facility being built in Grand Forks, North Dakota, which will include the swimming pool housing the neutral buoyancy facility.

NASA

The United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration, which may potentially use the UND neutral buoyancy facility for research and astronaut training in the future.

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What they’re saying

“It's a massive opportunity.”

— Keith Crisman, Assistant Professor, UND Department of Space Studies

“Everything else has to go through NASA or commercial partners.”

— Keith Crisman, Assistant Professor, UND Department of Space Studies

“In microgravity, we don't have a floor, right, so (it's) getting people out of the mindset that we're driven to a particular plane in microgravity.”

— Keith Crisman, Assistant Professor, UND Department of Space Studies

What’s next

UND is working with the city to put together a maintenance and operations agreement for the neutral buoyancy facility, with the latest public version showing the UND Aerospace Foundation would be contributing $1.5 million to the project.

The takeaway

The new neutral buoyancy facility at the Altru Sports Complex will give UND's space studies program a unique advantage, allowing students and researchers to simulate microgravity conditions for a wide range of experiments, testing, and training. This investment in the future of space exploration will help position UND as a leader in the academic space industry.