Deepsea Challenger

Drawing of the DCV1
Drawing of the DCV1, based on imagery from the Deepsea Challenger website (not to scale)
History
Australia
NameDeepsea Challenger
BuilderAcheron Project Pty Ltd
Launched26 January 2012
In service2012
StatusOn display in touring exhibition
General characteristics
TypeBathyscaphe
Displacement11.8 tons
Length7.3 m (24 ft)
Installed powerElectric motor
Propulsion12 thrusters
Speed3 knots (5.6 km/h; 3.5 mph)
Endurance56 hours
Test depth11,000 m (36,000 ft)
Complement1

Deepsea Challenger (DCV 1) is a 7.3-metre (24 ft) deep-diving submersible designed to reach the bottom of the Challenger Deep, the deepest-known point on Earth. On 26 March 2012, Canadian film director James Cameron piloted the craft to accomplish this goal in the second crewed dive reaching the Challenger Deep.[1][2][3][4] Built in Sydney, Australia, by the research and design company Acheron Project Pty Ltd, Deepsea Challenger includes scientific sampling equipment and high-definition 3-D cameras; it reached the ocean's deepest point after two hours and 36 minutes of descent from the surface.[1][5]

  1. ^ a b Than, Ker (25 March 2012). "James Cameron Completes Record-Breaking Mariana Trench Dive". National Geographic Society. Archived from the original on 26 March 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  2. ^ Broad, William J. (25 March 2012). "Filmmaker in Submarine Voyages to Bottom of Sea". The New York Times. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  3. ^ "James Cameron has reached deepest spot on Earth". NBC News. AP. 25 March 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2012.
  4. ^ Ingraham, Nathan (9 March 2012). "James Cameron and his Deepsea Challenger submarine". theverge.com. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
  5. ^ "Race to the bottom of the ocean: Cameron". BBC. 22 February 2012. Retrieved 10 March 2012.