Would you book a trip to outer space or under sea?

[Sigarms]

When I heard that the Titan sub, the one that just imploded, had a hatch that could only be opened from the outside, I couldn't believe that anybody would even get into the damn thing. Before it was determined that it had imploded I kept thinking about how the sub could be at the surface but lost to the rescue crews. And the people inside unable to open the hatch. And so they suffocated. While looking at the sky. So no thanks, I can no longer handle confined spaces.
Eric

I wondered about that as well per the hatch.

The only thing I can think of was it wasn't a hatch in the traditional sense that would swing open, and that it was actually just an access point into the submersible. For whatever reason, they must have determined that it gave the structure a stronger depth rating (just a WAG on my end). I know nothing about smaller deep diving submersibles, but with the water pressure at any great depth, I can't see the hatch being opened from the inside even you wanted to open it.

 

[Jstpssng]

I said NO to both. These are my reasons---
- fear
- cost of the trip
- cost for my share of the potential recovery efforts

Your share of the cost will be the same as that to every other US taxpayer.

 

[Dftodd]

He!! No!!!!! Technology needs to improve considerably before even considering the possibility.

My equilibrium isn't the best. So I would be prone to motion sickness.

I also have belly issues...... so..... everyone around me would probably be miserable and trying to figure out how to shove me out an air lock

 

[ruffdog]

See the carbon hull being formed and assembled:

 

[Sigarms]

He!! No!!!!! Technology needs to improve considerably before even considering the possibility.

Although I agree the above may be in poor taste, the reality is I can't help but think it's only conveying what the rest of the world thought.

5 people lost their lives which is tragic. Added reality is it happens every single day.

 

[2manyrocks]

Just a regular guy here, but my limited experience working with carbon fiber tube was that it is rigid and joining metal to the tubing was the weak spot (IMO) because it was dependent on the adhesive to hold the assembly together. I could see a situation where subjecting the carbon fiber to high pressures would be problematic because of its rigidity. I'm thinking of airline wing spans that are actually build to be strong, lightweight, and yet designed to flex.

Could also see it being problematic when you have a mix of metal and carbon fiber dealing with high pressure in combination together and depending on adhesive to compensate for the reaction between those two different materials which could be different from one another under pressure.

I'm not surprised that the use of carbon fiber in this extreme application was apparently controversial.

And add to that the pressure vessel being constructed in the shape of cylinder instead of a sphere.

 

[bigtiller]

A human body at 400 atmospheres has about 18 million pounds of pressure on it after the implosion.

Who is that guy on the video and are his facts accurate?

 

[ruffdog]

Who is that guy on the video and are his facts accurate?

I don't know who he is but I think his numbers are close.
Body Surface Area Calculator

Also, I saw an older video about subs and implosions and at 60 atmospheres, the quick compression would also cause high heat so 400 is WAY more than that.

 

[ernemats]

No way it is dangerous enough getting on an interstate highway now

 

[etpm]

Who is that guy on the video and are his facts accurate?

Well, 400 atmospheres is 14.7 PSI times 400 which is 5880 PSI. So, 5880 pounds of pressure for each square inch of skin surface. 18,000,000 divided by 5880 is 3061. Does the average human body have 3061 square inches of surface area? I don't know, it seems a little high. It could be correct though. But a finger that's 5/8" diameter and 3 inches long has 5.9 square inches surface area.
Eric

 

[Sigarms]

And add to that the pressure vessel being constructed in the shape of cylinder instead of a sphere.

You made me look.

I think the biggest variable that stacked the odds against the Titan was the fact that they created a submersible to hold 5 people "somewhat comfortably" which increased the surface area, which added additional pressure on the craft.

I don't know what I'm talking about, but help think the Alvin is one submersible that set the gold standard for deep see exploration, and it really doesn't look like a sphere to me.

Alvin only held 3 people.

Then took another look. Deepsea Challenger, which I believe holds the record for the deepest dive to 36,000' under water. The only downside? Only holds one person.

I could be wrong (usually am LOL) and sphere would make sense for a submersible craft, but I believe the issue is navigation and power to move the craft in it's design.

 

[2manyrocks]

The Alvin uses a sphere for the personnel compartment. It was upgraded to titanium in 1973. The Evolution of Alvin

4,700 deep sea dives in 50 years.

The Deepsea Challenger also uses a steel 2.5" thick 43" sphere for the pilot compartment. DEEPSEA CHALLENGER Pilot Sphere

James Cameron has given several interviews on his views about the construction of the Titan.

 

[AndyMA]

.....or Musk.

Why. Musk’s company has a great safety record

 

[2manyrocks]

I can say with 100% certainty that I'd buy a really nice cab Kubota with heat and air before I'd blow $250,000 to have a look at the Titantic.

 

[Sigarms]

The Alvin uses a sphere for the personnel compartment. It was upgraded to titanium in 1973. The Evolution of Alvin

4,700 deep sea dives in 50 years.

The Deepsea Challenger also uses a steel 2.5" thick 43" sphere for the pilot compartment. DEEPSEA CHALLENGER Pilot Sphere

James Cameron has given several interviews on his views about the construction of the Titan.

The key word "compartment".

As I noted, it makes sense due to the pressures you're dealing with that a sphere for a compartment makes sense, but can we both at least agree that a sphere does not make the entire vessel to explore? If the entire vessel were only a sphere, I would imagine it impossible to navigate the structure where you want it to go.

 

[Sprinkler Fitter]

No way. I am too claustrophobic to attempt anything like that.

Same here, when we were in St. Louis Missouri, I didn’t even go up in the arch, but the wife did, no way I’m riding in that little thing up to the arch.

 

[2manyrocks]

The key word "compartment".

As I noted, it makes sense due to the pressures you're dealing with that a sphere for a compartment makes sense, but can we both at least agree that a sphere does not make the entire vessel to explore? If the entire vessel were only a sphere, I would imagine it impossible to navigate the structure where you want it to go.

A sphere could be designed with a propulsion system making it 360 degree manuverable.

The bigger issue is why not use a robotic system given the advances in robotic controls and camera systems?

Would you voluntarily stuff yourself into the Deepsea Challenger's 43" sphere for hours on end?

 

[Sigarms]

I wondered about that as well per the hatch.

The only thing I can think of was it wasn't a hatch in the traditional sense that would swing open, and that it was actually just an access point into the submersible. For whatever reason, they must have determined that it gave the structure a stronger depth rating (just a WAG on my end). I know nothing about smaller deep diving submersibles, but with the water pressure at any great depth, I can't see the hatch being opened from the inside even you wanted to open it.

I stand corrected and I was wrong.

It appears the "hatch" was the nose section with the see through "glass". It actually was on hinges and swung open.

 

[Sigarms]

I can say with 100% certainty that I'd buy a really nice cab Kubota with heat and air before I'd blow $250,000 to have a look at the Titantic.

I believe a lot of people here on this forum are in the upper percentage per annual income and savings vs the median average in the US.

That said...

Lets say you get paid a dollar for every second you work, that is $3,600 per hour.

A million dollars would require 12 days.

A billion dollars would require 31 years.

I believe everyone except the pilot of the Titan was a billionaire. I don't think a billionaire thinks in terms of what kind of machine they want to buy to do manual labor for themselves to save time, they just pay someone to do it for them

 

[2manyrocks]

The entire Titantic shipwreck site has been digitally mapped with 700,000 images composited into a 3d model. Titanic: First ever full-sized scans reveal wreck as never seen before

Why the heck would anyone want to dive to it now?