The Sea Orbiter - Designed by the French architect Jaques Rougerie, the vessel, containing various laboratories for studying marine life, will be 51 meters high, two-thirds of which will be submerged underwater. The Sea Orbiter is based on a smaller model of the vessel that was tested and changed to improve the stability. The upper part of the Sea Orbiter will be a scientific station for studies of climate and changes in water and the atmosphere.
Both NASA and ESA (European Space Agency) are interested in the vessel as a small, enclosed platform with conditions that resemble those onboard the International Space Station (ISS).

The full-scale version of sea Orbiter is expected to cost $30 million and carry a crew of 16, recruited from many different participating countries.

Site: http://www.seaorbiter.com/accueil