Outer space and the earth's depths may be thousands of miles apart, but as professionals at Houston's Johnson Space Center have learned, the environments share similar challenges. With the insight of two medical doctors, a psychologist and an engineer at NASA, the space agency played a pivotal role in rescuing the 33 miners after their 33-day stay underground in Chile's San José copper and gold mine.

NASA's experience in spacecraft design and living in isolated environments provided expertise with respect to medical and design requirements in the rescue mission. The locations may very well be different, but the human physiological and behavioral responses to emergencies are quite similar.

"We were able to provide them [Chilean engineers designing the rescue cages] with some thoughts," explains Dr. Michael Duncan, deputy chief medical officer in NASA's Space Life Sciences Directorate in a statement. He adds, "Looking at the video of the cage, some of these things they've certainly incorporated into their design."

The expert advice also came from NASA physician J.D. Polk, psychologist Al Holland and engineer Clint Cragg. "It's an opportunity for us to bring the space experience back down to the ground." adds Duncan.

NASA's mentoring wasn't the only example of Houston pitching in to save the miners. Drilling companies haven't been held in the highest esteem since a mistake in the Gulf of Mexico in April, but Greg Hall of Drillers Supply International offered his company's expertise to help in the rescue effort. His company served as general contractor for the Plan B drill that eventually reached the miners. Hall described the project to KHOU as the most difficult and rewarding one he ever planned.

Houston-based GyroData, a high-tech oilfield company, also provided some hometown high-tech expertise, using gyroscopes used to drill relief wells to rescue miners underground.

Watch an address by NASA's Dr. Michael Duncan: