5. DEEP OCEAN STATIONS 
Utilizing the technology and techniques developed for shallower facilities, Deep Ocean Stations will be 
established on the continental slope, on the midocean ridge, and in the deep ocean up to 20,000 feet. 
Continental slope and midocean ridge stations will be in depths of about 8,000 feet and will be 
autonomous facilities supported by their own nuclear power plants. Accommodating crews of from 10 
to 50 men at one atmosphere and supported by deep diving submersibles, these stations will be located 
in unique geographical areas. The deeper 20,000-foot depth station will serve to advance fundamental 
technology for understanding and utilizing the deep ocean. 
These stations should be made available to the scientific community and private industry to pursue 
scientific or resource development programs. These stations will serve to increase the Nation’s fund of 
basic knowledge while evaluating the economic and military significance of deep ocean systems. As an 
example, deep ocean stations will be required if we are to develop techniques for deep ocean petroleum 
production and the mining operations for copper and nickel nodules abundant in certain areas of the 
deep ocean. 
NATIONAL PROJECT 
. Deep Ocean Stations 
—Continental Slope 
—Midocean Ridge 
—Abyssal Depths 
Subsystem and Component Development 
Open ocean surveys with submersible vehicles 
operated from station 
Fundamental Technology 
Small group interactions 
Blots baled ees uclures Work tasks with submersibles 
=»Transducer placement 
— Cable laying and protection 
— Oceanographic sampling 
Construction techniques 
Buoys and moorings 
Ship and submarine tracking techniques 
High pressure sealing techniques Geophysical activity measurements 
Logistic support techniques 
— Personnel exchange 
— Supplies 
— External maintenance 
Buoyancy control 
Acoustic measurement equipments and effect of 
different depths : 
Expected Benefits Operational Systems 
Legal and Poli: tical 
Ocean surveillance station 
Improve knowledge and confidence for inter- 
national negotiations on legal status of continental 
slope, ocean ridges, and abyssal depths 
Deep undersea broad ocean support site 
Command and control station 
Scientific 
In situ laboratory 
Military ie, 
Deep broad ocean undersea support © : 
Improve understanding of tactical advantage 
of three-dimensional naval operations 
VI-233 
