Shop OBEX P1 Docs P2 Docs Learn Events
Film maker James Cameron to dive into Mariana Trench — Parallax Forums

Film maker James Cameron to dive into Mariana Trench

Ron CzapalaRon Czapala Posts: 2,418
edited 2012-03-11 06:02 in General Discussion
Filmmaker James Cameron set the record this week for the world's deepest solo submarine dive and says he next plans to dive even deeper in a matter of weeks.

Humans last explored the Mariana Trench 50 years ago. In 1960, the Trieste submarine carried two divers, American Navy Lt. Don Walsh and Swiss oceanographer Jacques Piccard to the trench's bottom, where they spent 20 minutes.

Full article and video here http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/james-cameron-sets-submarine-diving-world-record-185633388.html

National Geographic article http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/03/120308-james-cameron-deepest-mariana-trench-challenger-science-sub/

Comments

  • ercoerco Posts: 20,259
    edited 2012-03-08 16:07
    Very cool endeavor. One mistake at that depth and he could become the subject of a disaster movie of Titanic proportions...
  • Jen J.Jen J. Posts: 649
    edited 2012-03-08 16:19
    Or he could turn blue...
  • Duane DegnDuane Degn Posts: 10,588
    edited 2012-03-08 16:38
    Ballard used use manned submersibles but he noticed once they were at the bottom, the scientists didn't look out the portholes, they watched the screens of the high resolution video cameras. That's when he realized people didn't need to make the trip.

    I wonder what this sub could do that an ROV couldn't. The sub has got to be much larger and much more complicated than a ROV, in order to keep a person alive. I hope they aren't just sending a man along for the drama.
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2012-03-09 03:32
    What can a sub do that an ROV can't -- maybe rescue. At times this might take a human touch, especially with rescue you do have to at least bring life support to the required depth.

    I suppose he might turn blue if there was enough CO, but I suspect he would more likely come back in a rather tiny package if a leak occured.
  • ajwardajward Posts: 1,130
    edited 2012-03-09 03:40
    Duane Degn wrote: »
    Ballard used use manned submersibles but he noticed once they were at the bottom, the scientists didn't look out the portholes, they watched the screens of the high resolution video cameras. That's when he realized people didn't need to make the trip.

    I wonder what this sub could do that an ROV couldn't. The sub has got to be much larger and much more complicated than a ROV, in order to keep a person alive. I hope they aren't just sending a man along for the drama.

    I suspect the drama is a large part of it. You send an ROV down 36,000 feet into the sea and no one much cares about what might happen to it. Send down a human, especially a celebrity, and we're probably going to get foot by foot coverage of the descent with audio, video, play by play and color commentary. Drawings, maps and animations and a cheerful soul explaining what might happen if something "goes wrong". Yep... drama fits. :-|

    @
  • RDL2004RDL2004 Posts: 2,554
    edited 2012-03-09 07:12
    Or he could turn blue...

    Lol...

    Didn't sink in at first. :)
  • Duane DegnDuane Degn Posts: 10,588
    edited 2012-03-09 07:26
    RDL2004 wrote: »
    Lol...

    Didn't sink in at first. :)

    Now I get it too! Ha, ha!
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2012-03-11 03:55
    It seems that the hull of this deep diving sub is some sort of new material - a foam. So I guess putting a human in it is a proof of concept in its integrity -- with the potential of human sacrafice offering a media event.

    We may be on the brink of the USA Navy hiding their subs in the deep deep trenches of the world - another annoyance for China.
  • skylightskylight Posts: 1,915
    edited 2012-03-11 04:47
    Jen J. wrote: »
    Or he could turn blue...
    You mean like your Avatar? ;)
  • ajwardajward Posts: 1,130
    edited 2012-03-11 06:02
    Loopy Byteloose wrote: »
    It seems that the hull of this deep diving sub is some sort of new material - a foam. So I guess putting a human in it is a proof of concept in its integrity -- with the potential of human sacrafice offering a media event.

    We may be on the brink of the USA Navy hiding their subs in the deep deep trenches of the world - another annoyance for China.

    The pressure vessel is made of steel and a pretty good chunk of it from the look.

    DSSteel.jpg


    More photos at: http://bit.ly/xmIj4b
    DSSteel.jpg
    435 x 487 - 31K
Sign In or Register to comment.