James Cameron Now at Ocean's Deepest Point

[steve2470]

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/03/120325-james-cameron-mariana-trench-challenger-deep-deepest-science-sub/?source=hp_dl1_news_dsc20120325

As of 5:52 p.m. ET Sunday (7:52 a.m. Monday, local time), James Cameron has arrived at the Mariana Trench's Challenger Deep, members of the National Geographic expedition have confirmed.

His depth on arrival: 35,756 feet (10,898 meters)—a figure unattainable anywhere else in the ocean.

Reaching bottom, the National Geographic explorer and filmmaker typed out welcome words for the cheering support crew waiting at the surface: "All systems OK."

Folded into a sub cockpit as cramped as any Apollo capsule, the National Geographic explorer and filmmaker is now investigating a seascape more alien to humans than the moon. Cameron is only the third person to reach this Pacific Ocean valley southwest of Guam (map)—and the only one to do so solo.

[sharp_stick]

1. I'm jealous as hell

this is the kind of thing I wish I could do.

[MuseRider]

2. This is very cool

but I have to say, this just freaks me the fuck out. Being a little claustrophobic I simply can't imagine. Love to scuba dive, wish I could go more often, but offered a ride in a small sub that only went down the Bloody Bay wall I had to say no. Can't wait to see what he comes up with.

[JHB]

3. I hope he's taking some good pictures n/t

[Blue_Tires]

23. I'm wondering if he found any ships or aircraft

there are still a whole lot of them in the Pacific that have never been found, just from WWII naval battles alone...

The deepest known wreck site anywhere is "only" about 17,000 ft., iirc

[hifiguy]

25. According to the NY Times story, Cameron

designed the submersible himself and it is bristling with cameras, video equipment and mechanisms that will let him bring samples to the surface.

This is such a cool story.

[annabanana]

4. WOW!

This is exciting. I'm glad the man's a story teller.

[Bluenorthwest]

7. He's got cameras rolling....

3D

[ananda]

5. I'm so fukking impressed.

I would die of claustrophobia before it ever got anywhere.

I couldn't even get an MRI without heavy xanax sedation.

[MuseRider]

9. LOL they gave me enough Valium

that even the country music they were playing in my headphones could not keep me awake (not a fan). I warned them, thankfully they took me at my word.

[vanlassie]

6. He's King of The World!!!

[nanabugg]

8. Now this is NEWS!!!! Not many paying attention.

Maybe, if he discovered an alien sea creature it would get some play.

[NBachers]

10. Credit to the Beebe-Barton Bathysphere, Robert Ballard, and all those who went ahead

Better than Dirk Pitt

[steve2470]

11. Filmmaker in Submarine Voyages to Bottom of Sea

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/26/science/james-camerons-submarine-trip-to-challenger-deep.html?google_editors_picks=true

James Cameron, the filmmaker whose credits include “Avatar” and “Titanic,” plunged on Sunday in a minisubmarine of his own design to the bottom of the planet’s deepest recess, sinking through the dark waters of the western Pacific to a depth of nearly seven miles.

The National Geographic Society, which is helping sponsor the expedition, said he reached the bottom at 5:52 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time and promised updates on the risky endeavor, the first in 52 years to descend so deep.

After seven years of planning — done with a team in Australia and largely in secret — Mr. Cameron strode up to his sleek 24-foot-long craft, folded his frame into a steel personal capsule just 43 inches wide and plummeted through miles of icy darkness into a trough known as the Challenger Deep. Rough seas had delayed his dive about two weeks.

“He’s just made it to the bottom,” Ellen Stanley, a National Geographic spokeswoman, said late Sunday in an interview. “This is awesome. He said: ‘All systems are O.K.’ That’s it.” She added that Mr. Cameron’s descent took more than two hours.

[WillyT]

12. K & R !!!

[greytdemocrat]

13. Very interesting and cool!

Let's hope the giant Megalodon Sharks don't get him!!!

[Tx4obama]

14. Congratulations to James Cameron !!!

James Cameron Mariana Trench Dive: Director Reaches Deepest Spot On Earth


<SNIP>

He plans to spend about six hours exploring and filming the Mariana Trench, about 200 miles southwest of the Pacific island of Guam.

"All systems OK," were Cameron's first words upon reaching the bottom, according to a statement. His arrival at a depth of 35,756 feet came early Sunday evening on the U.S. East Coast, after a descent that took more than two hours.

The scale of the trench is hard to grasp – it's 120 times larger than the Grand Canyon and more than a mile deeper than Mount Everest is tall.

<SNIP>

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/25/james-cameron-mariana-trench-dive_n_1378507.html

[FailureToCommunicate]

15. Eight miles low...

Congrats to Cameron, another explorer of 'inner space'

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[Tx4obama]

16. Update: James Cameron's Deepsea Challenge HAS SURFACED after trip to bottom of Mariana Trench

Breaking News ? @BreakingNews

James Cameron's Deepsea Challenge has surfaced after trip to bottom of Mariana Trench - @PaulGAllen

https://twitter.com/BreakingNews/status/184098598953291776

[Poll_Blind]

17. James Cameron is a very unique fellow. And whatever you think of him, he's definitely got...

...some balls to put his own ass on the line, doing something few have ever done.

PB

[UnrepentantLiberal]

18. I hadn't heard this was happening.

It should be on the news this morning.

[WCGreen]

19. That man has Bathospheres for balls.

Going solo, it's a long way down.

No ones been there since 1959, i believe.

It's a great thing, a very good thing to show man has complete dominion over the surface of the Earth.

[Frank Cannon]

20. Cameron's a douche, but he's undeniably smart and brave.

Try as I might, I really can't stand the guy. But my hat's off to him, and I have to admit that I can't wait to see the images he's captured of this part of our world.

[WCGreen]

24. He certainly is a self absorbig douche....

[_ed_]

21. Tax. The. Rich.

While I'm as interested in the discoveries he's making as anyone else, my first thought upon hearing this story was to think about homeless veterans living on the street of a country where one man is rich enough to build a special submarine to dive to the bottom of the ocean.

Tax. The. Rich.

[nxylas]

22. Quite a coincidence

Two people called Cameron both reaching an all-time low on the same day.