Posted on 05/12/2014 11:12:53 PM PDT by LibWhacker
One of the world's most capable deep-sea research subs has been lost.
The robotic vehicle Nereus went missing while exploring one of the ocean's deepest spots: the Kermadec Trench, which lies north east of New Zealand.
Surface debris was found, suggesting the vessel suffered a catastrophic implosion as a result of the immense pressures where it was operating some 10km (6.2 miles) down.
Nereus was a flagship ocean explorer for the US science community.
"Nereus helped us explore places we've never seen before and ask questions we never thought to ask," said Timothy Shank, from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), which managed the sub's activities.
"It was a one-of-a-kind vehicle that even during its brief life brought us amazing insights into the unexplored deep ocean, addressing some of the most fundamental scientific problems of our time about life on Earth."
The $8m (£4.7m) robot was built in 2008 and could operate in an autonomous mode or remotely controlled via a tether to a support ship to explore the Earth's deepest oceanic trenches.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...
They can find debris of this craft, but not of MH370.
If I remember correctly, scientists on the support ship were holding their collective breath, as it took 7 minutes for the radio transmission from the submersible to let them know that the two guys had made it.
I am sure there is plenty of info available online, of course.
15,588 psi is a goodly pressure.
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