Some good feedback from cave experts in Thailand. Iterating with them on an escape pod design that might be safe enough to try. Also building an inflatable tube with airlocks. Less likely to work, given tricky contours, but great if it does.
Got more great feedback from Thailand. Primary path is basically a tiny, kid-size submarine using the liquid oxygen transfer tube of Falcon rocket as hull. Light enough to be carried by 2 divers, small enough to get through narrow gaps. Extremely robust.
IMHO @ElonMusk & @SpaceX did a good thing by trying to come up with #ThailandCaveRescue solutions. This speaks strongly of their character. In so doing they've also demonstrated the one thing that's more important than rocketry when it comes to exploring a new world: MacGyvering. pic.twitter.com/NMRfRgqAYt
@ElonMusk: “4 handles/hitch points on front & 4 on rear. 2 air tank connections on front & 2 on rear, allowing 1 to 4 tanks simultaneously connected, all recessed for impact protection w secondary cap seal if leak develops.”
@ElonMusk: “Fitted for a kid or small adult to minimize open air. Segmented compartments to place rocks or dive weights & adjust bouyancy.”
AIUI, the hard part is the very first water passage from the chamber where they are trapped, it is so narrow that divers have to take off their tanks and wriggle through. That’s exactly where kids are at greatest risk of panicking and throwing off their breathing gear, and precisely where an enclosing tube-suit-thing wouldn’t work.
Pumping the water out of stretches of the cave is proving to be the key to this rescue in Thailand, that plus the great coordination and pre-planning of the dive teams for the underwater parts. Thai kids are thin and probably negatively buoyant so that helps.
“Elon Musk built a “submarine” to rescue Thailand kids—here’s what it looks like. Device likely won’t be needed but Musk is sending it to Thailand just in case.”
Say what you will about Elon Musk – he steps up when needed.
@ElonMusk: “4 handles/hitch points on front & 4 on rear. 2 air tank connections on front & 2 on rear, allowing 1 to 4 tanks simultaneously connected, all recessed for impact protection w secondary cap seal if leak develops.”
@ElonMusk: “Fitted for a kid or small adult to minimize open air. Segmented compartments to place rocks or dive weights & adjust bouyancy.”
https://arstechnica.com/sci…
From the live coverage, it does not appear that this thing is being used, with no indication as to why.
AIUI, the hard part is the very first water passage from the chamber where they are trapped, it is so narrow that divers have to take off their tanks and wriggle through. That’s exactly where kids are at greatest risk of panicking and throwing off their breathing gear, and precisely where an enclosing tube-suit-thing wouldn’t work.
Thre was no time to get other gear there and they’re racing to get them out before a monsoon hits. 4 out so far.
Update: They just got four more out (Yeehah!), and yes, it’s a serious race against that monsoon!
Pumping the water out of stretches of the cave is proving to be the key to this rescue in Thailand, that plus the great coordination and pre-planning of the dive teams for the underwater parts. Thai kids are thin and probably negatively buoyant so that helps.
Go get ’em Elon!
Just released a video of it being used:
https://twitter.com/elonmus…
Now says with some Mods could be used as an escape capsule.
“Elon Musk built a “submarine” to rescue Thailand kids—here’s what it looks like. Device likely won’t be needed but Musk is sending it to Thailand just in case.”
https://uploads.disquscdn.c… https://uploads.disquscdn.c… https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
Difficult solution due to the confined passages, but Musk reacts quickly and visibly to dramatic events.
Something that was, once upon a time, an observation made similarly of great nations.
You know who I want building a large passenger rocket? I want someone who has trained their people to respond quickly in an emergency.