ll. DEEP OCEAN ACTIVITIES 
Most nations border on and are affected by the 
sea; their people appreciate its power and hostility. 
An expression of determination by the United 
States to go forward with a significant marine 
technology program and to establish leadership in 
the understanding and development of earth’s last 
frontier cannot go unnoticed. U.S. prestige surely 
would be enhanced if it pursued the undersea 
frontier on its own initiative; the United States 
would enter international deliberations on the 
utilization of the sea in a position of strength 
based upon knowledge and prior achievement. 
Achieving exploration and assessment of the 
ocean bottom within 10 years and the capability 
to carry out useful operations in the depths within 
three decades requires new technology. 
The oceans are the operating medium of Amer- 
ica’s foremost deterrent in maintaining the balance 
of world power. The United States cannot take the 
risk that a potential antagonist might gain knowl- 
edge the United States does not possess, thereby 
seizing an undersea capability advantage. 
In this report, the deep ocean is defined as open 
ocean areas from the surface to 20,000 feet 
beyond the 2,000-foot depth contour. The 
2,000-foot contour was selected because it is 
beyond the edge of the continental shelf and 
because 2,000 feet is the presently projected limit 
for advanced ambient pressure diving. The 
20,000-foot goal is important because it encom- 
passes all but two percent of the ocean floor and 
approximately 99 per cent of ocean volume. A few 
Operations at intermediate depths, such as on 
seamounts and midocean ridges, might justify 
exceptions to the goal. 
The step beyond 2,000 feet represents a tech- 
nological challenge, not so much against a poten- 
tial adversary (although this cannot be certain), 
but against a new frontier. The frontier exists 
primarily because there has not been a national 
commitment to explore, understand, and master 
this promising expanse. 
It should not be implied that the problems are 
not difficult. Experience indicates that operations 
below 2,000 feet are limited by equipment and 
materials capabilities. Existing systems can per- 
form only small amounts of useful work. Tech- 
nical problems exist in developing high strength, 
low cost materials, compact long endurance power 
sources, and machinery and equipment that will 
operate reliably in the cold, corrosive, high pres- 
sure seawater environment. Successful operations 
below 2,000 feet require new approaches expected 
to be valid all the way to 20,000-foot depths. 
Although initial investment may be a little 
higher, no important improvements in early pro- 
gram schedule or nearterm costs would occur if 
the deep ocean technology goal were set incre- 
mentally at depths of less than 20,000 feet. The 
same problems must be solved, and use of the best 
materials on hand would be economically justified. 
In fact, overall costs most likely would be higher 
for a program having depth goals set in progressive 
increments. 
The sections following contain a review of the 
kinds of systems available and likely to evolve in 
performing useful missions in the undersea fron- 
tier. An assessment of the state-of-the-art is made 
with specific recommendations for the future. 
Expected benefits range from military and scien- 
tific to political, social, and economic. 
A. Undersea Systems 
Although nearly 10 years ago the Trieste went 
to the deepest part of the ocean, nearly 36,000 
feet below sea level, submersible technology is still 
in its infancy. The deepest dive known for a 
maneuverable nonbathyscaph was to 8,310 feet in 
early 1968. Yet this craft is but a primitive 
forerunner of future submersible systems. 
It is known that all the way to the bottom 
there is marine life and that high grade minerals 
exist on the seafloor. At the foot of continental 
slopes sedimentary deposits are likely to contain 
petroleum. Exploration and development of re- 
sources will be enhanced by manned vehicles and 
remote systems that can operate anywhere in the 
water column. 
It is a great advantage to the scientist to observe 
firsthand the environment he is studying. Ad- 
vanced marine technology can and must give him 
basic tools to extend his senses into the undersea 
frontier to unravel its great mysteries. 
Surveys are needed not only to understand and 
measure environmental conditions but also to 
determine areas worth exploring—what resources, 
where, and in what concentrations?—not only on 
the shelf but also in the deep sea. At the same time 
national security demands the ability to inspect, 
examine, or survey any area of interest in the deep 
ocean or ocean bottom. 
VI1-83 
