the biosphere 2 was billed as "the first large habitat for humans that would live & breathe on its own, as cut off from the earth as a spaceship". the $200 million sealed environment included its own one million gallon artificial sea. it was a near instant failure. the first closed mission lasted from september 26, 1991 to september 26, 1993. sadly, today it is over-run and decaying. these photographs were taken by noah sheldon.