Bridge to the Future

The inside of the bridge of R/V Neil Armstrong was left to dry after workers sprayed a thermal coating that will prevent condensation buildup on the steel bulkheads and ceiling when the ship is at sea. The bridge is the navigational center of the 238-foot ship, and will house state-of-the-art equipment such as GPS, radar, and controls for the ship’s two variable-pitch propellers and rudders. The ship is under construction in Anacortes, Washington and will join the fleet operated by the University National Oceanographic Laboratory System (UNOLS) after it is launched in 2014. (Photo by Gary McGrath, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)