![A new mission is underway to explore the wreckage of the Titanic. It's the first commercial voyage since the OceanGate tragedy in 2023.](https://san.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/clean-image.jpg?w=1920)
[LAUREN TAYLOR]
A GROUP OF SCIENTISTS, HISTORIANS AND IMAGING EXPERTS ARE GETTING SET TO VISIT THE SITE OF THE TITANIC.
IT’S THE FIRST COMMERCIAL MISSION TO THE WRECKAGE SINCE LAST YEAR’S DEADLY OCEANGATE TRAGEDY.
THIS TRIP’S FOCUS ISN’T TOURISM.
RATHER – THEY HOPE TO GATHER THE MOST DETAILED PHOTOGRAPHIC RECORD EVER MADE OF THE TITANIC’S REMAINS.
TWO ROBOTIC VEHICLES WILL DIVE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE OCEAN– CAPTURING MILLIONS OF HIGH-RESOLUTION PICTURES.
THEY ALSO PLAN TO MAKE A 3-D MODEL OF ALL THE DEBRIS.
EVERY SINGLE PART OF THE VESSEL WILL BE SCANNED TO GAIN NEW INSIGHT INTO THE LIVES OF PASSENGERS, IT’S ORNATE ITEMS AND FURTHER DETAILS ABOUT ITS ULTIMATE DEMISE.
RESEARCHERS WILL REVIEW THE STATE OF SOME WELL-KNOWN OBJECTS AMONG THE DEBRIS. LIKE THE BOILERS THAT SPILLED OUT AS THE STEAMLINER BROKE IN HALF AND THE CAST IRON PLATE OF A STEINWAY GRAND PIANO.
THEY ALSO HOPE TO GATHER SOME OF THE PASSENGERS’ POSSESSIONS, LIKE BAGS, WHICH WILL HELP TELL THE STORIES OF PEOPLE ABOARD THE DOOMED SHIP.
THE VOYAGE WILL TAKE AROUND 20 DAYS.
THE EXPEDITION IS BEING SPEARHEADED BY U-S COMPANY R-M-S TITANIC INCORPORATED.
ONE OF THE FIVE PEOPLE WHO DIED DURING THE OCEANGATE MISSION HELD THE POSITION OF DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH FOR COMPANY – WHICH OWNS EXCLUSIVE SALVAGE RIGHTS TO THE LINER. A PLAQUE HONORING HIM WILL BE PLACED ON THE SEABED DURING THE OPERATION.
THIS WILL BE THE COMPANY’S NINTH VISIT TO THE WRECKAGE.
THEY’VE CONFIRMED THEY WILL NOT BE USING MANNED SUBMERSIBLES ON THE MISSION – BUT WILL SPEND 20 DAYS ON A SHIP ABOVE THE WRECK.
THE CORPORATION HAS DRAWN CRITICISM FOR REMOVING ITEMS FROM THE SHIP. 55-HUNDRED ITEMS TO DATE.
CRITICS SAY THE TITANIC IS A GRAVESITE FOR 15-HUNDRED PEOPLE WHO DIED THAT NIGHT IN 1912 AND SHOULD REMAIN UNTOUCHED.
BUT COMPANY RESEARCHERS ARGUE JUST LETTING “HER PASSENGERS AND CREW BE LOST TO HISTORY WOULD BE THE BIGGEST TRAGEDY OF ALL.”
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