There aren't many vessels that can descend nearly a mile into the deadly netherworld of the deep sea. But even among that small group, Titan was something different.
The submersible, which imploded this week, killing all five on board, used lightweight materials and other features not found in similar craft. As the inevitable post-accident investigations—and lawsuits—proceed, there are bound to be questions as to whether the owner of the undersea craft, OceanGate Expeditions, compromised safety to profit from the booming adventure tourism industry.
For starters, the Titan was built from an unusual material to enable it to dive to places such as the wreck of the Titanic, which is 12,500 feet under the Atlantic. While submersibles such as the U.S. Navy's Alvin (which has also explored the Titanic) use a titanium pressure hull, the Titan is made out of carbon fiber as well as titanium. "Titan is the world's only carbon-fiber submersible capable of diving five people to 4,000 meters (13,123 feet)," OceanGate claims on its website.
Just as in aircraft and spacecraft, titanium is used in submersibles because it's both lightweight and strong; but it's also extremely expensive and difficult to work with. That's why the U.S. Navy still builds its nuclear submarines out of steel, though a new Virginia-class attack submarine is estimated to have a maximum depth of perhaps 1,500 feet.
Just as in aircraft and spacecraft, titanium is used in submersibles because it's both lightweight and strong; but it's also extremely expensive and difficult to work with. That's why the U.S. Navy still builds its nuclear submarines out of steel, though a new Virginia-class attack submarine is estimated to have a maximum depth of perhaps 1,500 feet. |
There aren't many vessels that can descend nearly a mile into the deadly netherworld of the deep sea. But even among that small group, Titan was something different.
The submersible, which imploded this week, killing all five on board, used lightweight materials and other features not found in similar craft. As the inevitable post-accident investigations—and lawsuits—proceed, there are bound to be questions as to whether the owner of the undersea craft, OceanGate Expeditions, compromised safety to profit from the booming adventure tourism industry.
For starters, the Titan was built from an unusual material to enable it to dive to places such as the wreck of the Titanic, which is 12,500 feet under the Atlantic. While submersibles such as the U.S. Navy's Alvin (which has also explored the Titanic) use a titanium pressure hull, the Titan is made out of carbon fiber as well as titanium. "Titan is the world's only carbon-fiber submersible capable of diving five people to 4,000 meters (13,123 feet)," OceanGate claims on its website.
Just as in aircraft and spacecraft, titanium is used in submersibles because it's both lightweight and strong; but it's also extremely expensive and difficult to work with. That's why the U.S. Navy still builds its nuclear submarines out of steel, though a new Virginia-class attack submarine is estimated to have a maximum depth of perhaps 1,500 feet.
Just as in aircraft and spacecraft, titanium is used in submersibles because it's both lightweight and strong; but it's also extremely expensive and difficult to work with. That's why the U.S. Navy still builds its nuclear submarines out of steel, though a new Virginia-class attack submarine is estimated to have a maximum depth of perhaps 1,500 feet. |
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