Technology in the (Ocean) Trenches

Comments

• 	a final frontier Guest (kitk) on 06/06/2006 at 12:00 AM
  Posts: 1	This is a wonderfull advance! Mining in areas already so mineral-contaminated (Deep sea smokers) that the mining cannot really harm the environment. It opens up almost endless resources and will promote a lot of deep sea exploration and research heretofore the province of a few rare expeditions. I hope the UN doesn't try to kill this again. Rate this comment: (Reply)

• 	fantasy Guest (ed ) on 06/06/2006 at 12:00 AM
  Posts: 1	better focus on energy resources than minerals!!!! Rate this comment: (Reply)

  • 	fantasy Guest (Franny) on 06/06/2006 at 12:00 AM
    Posts: 1	That depth as example is about 800 fathoms.  I have commercial fished Black Cod at 600 fathoms.  We don't need the bottom torn up in shallow waters. Rate this comment: (Reply)

    • 	tearing up the sea bottom Guest (mARK) on 06/06/2006 at 12:00 AM
      Posts: 1	"We don't need the bottom torn up in shallow waters." indeed.  drag nets cause huge ecological damage. Rate this comment: (Reply)

• Relevancy to Asteroid resources relevancy Guest (Dave Huntsman) on 06/06/2006 at 12:00 AM

  Posts: 1

  One of my concerns about the current Vision for Space Exploration is that, in the direction it is going, it is not trying to build 'sustainability' into it. My definition of what that means: a. ability to live off of the 'land' off-earth, without having to be constantly resupplied expensively from Earth; and, 2. A reason for space that bridges the gap to the broader, planet-wide, non-space economy.  I don't think asteroids- or anything else- as a practical matter, solve those issues. I think asteroids, mined by robots, do. Dave Huntsman Rate this comment: (Reply)

  • Asteroidal Mining Guest (B. Meyer) on 06/07/2006 at 12:00 AM

    Posts: 1

    It all becomes practical if a profit motive (there is one for Selene and asteroid mining) and imagination are available. Human history is evidence to this.  Further, natural history shows that a species that does not expand its range will become extinct. Geopolitically, China already believes there is a case for off-earth resource acquisition using human staffed intermediate bases--see their current plans for lunar and near-earth astroidal efforts. Rate this comment: (Reply)

• Great Advance for Oceanographers Guest (Brian Glassman ) on 06/08/2006 at 12:00 AM

  Posts: 1

  I agree with the previous reply, this is a great advance toward the exploration of sub-ocean resources. Oceanographers often quip that “we know more about the surface of the moon than the bottom of our oceans.” Underwater robotic mining technologies will definitely provide a monetary incentive towards expanding our understanding of the ocean’s bottom and aid in exploiting their previously inaccessible and hidden resources. Thank you Brian Glassman Rate this comment: (Reply)