Expedition Sends Back New Images of the Titanic

A joint expedition surveying the wreckage of the Titanic is using advanced technology to take crisp new images of the ill-fated boat, reports the Associated Press.

The partnership between the RMS Titanic and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution have employed sonar and imaging techniques never before used on the wreck, which is about 2.5 miles under the surface.

Scientists are using robots to take high-resolution photos and videos, which are being used in an attempt to fully catalog the ship's artifacts. The expedition will not attempt to salvage anything, but will rather try to map the 2-by-3 mile debris field where a large number of artifacts are expected scattered.

The mission left from Newfoundland in early August but is being postponed due to bad weather spawned by Hurricane Danielle. However researchers plan to continue their work once the storm subsides.

Over 1,500 people died when the Titanic struck an iceberg in the Atlantic Ocean in 1912. The remains of the boat were discovered in 1985 by oceanographer Robert Ballard and an international team of scientists. "Titanic" director James Cameron also led teams to the site while researching the movie.

The last expedition to the site by the RMS Titanic, which has exclusive salvage rights to the wreck, was made in 2004.

 Selected Reading: A.P.

Contact Us