Sunita Williams, who holds the record for most time spent walking in space by a female astronaut, will be speaking at the New England Aquarium Thursday after diving into the aquarium’s Giant Ocean Tank.
Williams, 49, has a total spacewalk time of 50 hours and 40 minutes. She has also spent nine days in the world’s only underwater research station Florida, a statement from the aquarium said.
Astronauts often train in underwater environments because it simulates the challenging gravity environment experienced in space, the statement said.
After diving into the tank at 9 a.m., Williams will answer questions from the public.
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Later in the afternoon, from noon to 2 p.m., Sue Curley, a NASA policy specialist and spacesuit expert, will compare spacesuit technology to diving equipment in a live presentation.
Outside the aquarium, at the Harbor View Terrace, NASA will display its Destination Station, a mobile exhibit that educates visitors about NASA and the International Space Station.
The exhibit will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is free.
Felicia Gans can be reached at felicia.gans@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @FeliciaGans.