Alvin, Discoverer of The Titanic, To Be Retired
August 26th, 2008 by SBRaise a glass and wipe a tear from your eye. Alvin, that intrepid Navy explorer famed for exploring the Titanic with Dr. Robert Ballard’s team at Woods Hole, is heading for the great metal front porch. He will be replaced by leaner, meaner, raw cast titanium whipper snapper that is costing some 50 million dollars.
From the NYT:
The new vehicle is to replace Alvin, which was the first submersible to illuminate the rusting hulk of the Titanic and the first to carry scientists down to discover the bizarre ecosystems of tube worms and other strange creatures that thrive in icy darkness.
The United States used to have several submersibles — tiny submarines that dive extraordinarily deep. Alvin is the only one left, and after more than four decades of probing the sea’s depths it is to be retired. Its replacement, costing some $50 million, is to go deeper, move faster, stay down longer, cut the dark better, carry more scientific gear and maybe — just maybe — open a new era of exploration.
I personally will definitely be pouring one out for my junked homie; discovering the Titanic and all the attendant wonder of deep sea exploration made realize how bitchin’ science actually is. Alvin is where the scientists who deployed Argo the ROV and Jason the autonomous submersible were stationed.
Badass leader of robots, we salute you.
ALVIN,
in return for intrepid exploration of the far reaches of one of earth’s last true frontiers,
and for allowing our thoughts to run somewhere other than that stupid chipmunk whenever your name is mentioned,
Suicidebots declares you unequivocally and with all rights and privileges rising therefrom,
COOL ROBOT OF THE WEEK
Never mind that you are not technically a robot, but as as far as we are concerned you are close enough to it.
Enjoy your retirement.
