Today I Learned (TIL)

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TIL about Alvin, a deep sea sub from the '60s still active today (slate.com)

submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DSV_Alvin

Sounds like it was (shocker) really well designed. It even sank once when a cable snapped on support boat

crew escaped, and it was recovered and retrofit. And if things go sideways, the cabin/titanium sphere could detach, floating freely up to the surface.

After hearing about OceanGate, deep sea subs sounded terrifying

but reading about this is somehow very comforting.

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[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

To be fair, it’s a Ship of Theseus - none of the current sub is from the 1960s:

The current Alvin is the same as the original vessel in name and general design only. All components of the vessel, including the frame and personnel sphere, have been replaced at least once.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

Good point! I think this makes it even neater in a way: it was a solid, modular design that allowed for upgrades.