OCEAN SCIENCES AND NATIONAL SECURITT 79 



2. Deep Ocean Probes — Bathyscaph "Trieste," "Aluminaut," and Other 

 Vehicles for Exploration of the Deep Sea 



While present knowledge of the sea is scanty, that concerning detail 

 of the ocean bottom and of activities in deep water is even more 

 seriously deficient. Most exploration has taken place on or near the 

 sm-face of the sea or in shaUow water at the boundaries — partly 

 because these regions have been in the past the most significant, partly 

 because these regions have been the only ones readily accessible. 



To study the whole complex — the composition of the bottom, the 

 vertical as well as horizontal circulation of cmrents, the various layers 

 of biological activities — it is necessary that the scientists literalh' 

 probe deeply. Some such research has already been successfully 

 conducted thi'ough various instruments dangled by lines from surface 

 ships, dragged on the bottom or telemetered to receivmg stations from 

 free-floating buoys set to drift at specific depths. 



In all of these cases, the scientist has been remote from the subject 

 of study, a separation not considered satisfactory by oceanogi-aphers: 



The scientist uses his senses in combination with his understanding and intui- 

 tion to unravel the character of the world around him. He vrants to see, touch, 

 taste, smell, and hear the universe. To do this requires refinement and exten- 

 sion of these senses in space, precision, and discrimination. He uses instruments 

 and tools as extensions of his senses and himself. Our modern civilization has 

 provided a broad technology for these purposes and we believe that marine 

 science should use much more of this modern technology. * * * For a wide 

 variety of exploratory and experimental problems the investigator would like 

 ideally to go down to the sea floor, walk around, observe, and collect specimens, 

 and see to what extent the environment on or near the bottom of the sea is like 

 that on the surface of the land. The scientist would like also to be able to use as 

 many of his land learned techniques as possible. Existing bathyscaphs provide 

 a first approach to this ideal and greatly improved submersibles are now tech- 

 nically and economically feasible. These improved deep submersibles are needed 

 to complement the limited research capabilities of surface ships.^* 



Manned deep-diving vehicles thus appear requu'ed to complete the 

 set of facilities to undertake a complete program of oceanic research. 



The bathyscaph Trieste, now owned and operated by the U.S. Navy, 

 represents one of the two similar devices in which man may descend 

 to almost any depth to observe the environment and natm-a,l phe- 

 nomenon of the entire water column, to make multiple and continuous 

 measurements under immediate control of the scientist himself, and 

 to selectively sample what he observes. The bathyscaph was invented 

 by Auguste Piccard and consists, essentially, of an underwater blimp. 

 Its cabin, which ordinarily holds two passengers, is a sphere of high- 

 strength steel 6 feet 7 inches m diameter and 3.54 inches thick. 

 Because of the thickness of walls to provide strength against hydro- 

 static pressure, the gondola is too heavy to float alone. It is thus 

 suspended from a metal flotation tank roughly 50-feet long and 

 11 feet 6 inches in diameter and containing gasoline. This tank thus 

 provides the supplementary buoyancy that permits controlled descent 

 and ascent of the enthe gondola-tank vehicle. Ten tons of iron 

 pellets are carried as ballast. 



The gondola is fitted with two viewmg ports of plexiglass through 

 which visual observations may be made continuously. Natural sun- 

 Ught, which fades and disappears at depths on the order of 1,000 feet, 

 is supplemented by an externally mounted, electrically powered 

 mercury lamp. 



" Oceanography, 19i30-70, Kngineeriag Needs for Ocean Exploration," NASCO Report, ch. 7, pp. 1-2. 



