NASA may not know much about being trapped deep underground, but they know a lot about people sharing a confined and isolated space for a prolonged period of time. And so two physicians, one psychologist, and one engineer from the space agency arrived in Chile to give 33 trapped men advice on how to survive as they continue to wait for help.
The men have been trapped 2,300 feet below ground since Aug. 5, when their mine shaft collapsed.
Among NASA's suggestions are an increased supplement of Vitamin D to normalize sleep patterns and developing an organized daily routine that includes exercise.
Advice is all well and good, but we bet they're craving something a little more tangible. Here are the top five NASA inventions they should be passing along:
Dippin Dots - NASA was the first to invent freeze-dried food, and we can't think of anything better for lifting lagging spirits than the ice cream of the future.
Memory Foam - If these guys are going to be waiting until Christmas, they might as well be comfortable.
Mars Rover - Since they don't have the capacity to set up a Wii, the least NASA could do is provide a schmancy remote-control car to take up some of that downtime. (NASA also invented the joystick).
Water Filter - This one just makes sense.
Satellite TV - Glee premieres Sept. 21. To miss it would be tragic.
Relatives of Chile miners trapped underground in a copper and gold mine gather around a screen that shows the miners inside the mine at Copiapo.
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Photo by Leonid Furmansky