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| Robot sub reaches deepest ocean | Robot sub reaches deepest ocean |
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| A robotic sub called Nereus has reached the deepest-known part of the ocean. | A robotic sub called Nereus has reached the deepest-known part of the ocean. |
| The dive to 10,902m (6.8 miles) took place on 31 May, at the Challenger Deep in the Marianas Trench, located in the western Pacific Ocean. | The dive to 10,902m (6.8 miles) took place on 31 May, at the Challenger Deep in the Marianas Trench, located in the western Pacific Ocean. |
| This makes Nereus the deepest-diving vehicle currently in service and the first vehicle to explore the Marianas Trench since 1998. | This makes Nereus the deepest-diving vehicle currently in service and the first vehicle to explore the Marianas Trench since 1998. |
| The unmanned vehicle is remotely operated by pilots aboard a surface ship via a lightweight tether. | The unmanned vehicle is remotely operated by pilots aboard a surface ship via a lightweight tether. |
| Its thin, fibre-optic tether to the research vessel Kilo Moana allows the submersible to make deep dives and be highly manoeuvrable. | Its thin, fibre-optic tether to the research vessel Kilo Moana allows the submersible to make deep dives and be highly manoeuvrable. |
| THE NEREUS SUBMERSIBLE Weight on land: 2,800kgPayload capacity: 25kgMaximum speed: 3 knotsBatteries: rechargeable lithium ion | THE NEREUS SUBMERSIBLE Weight on land: 2,800kgPayload capacity: 25kgMaximum speed: 3 knotsBatteries: rechargeable lithium ion |
| Nereus can also be switched into a free-swimming, autonomous vehicle. | Nereus can also be switched into a free-swimming, autonomous vehicle. |
| "With a robot like Nereus, we can now explore virtually anywhere in the ocean," said Andy Bowen, project manager and principal developer of the sub at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI). | "With a robot like Nereus, we can now explore virtually anywhere in the ocean," said Andy Bowen, project manager and principal developer of the sub at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI). |
| The sub sampled sediment from the Marianas Trench | |
| "The trenches are virtually unexplored, and I am absolutely certain Nereus will enable new discoveries. I believe it marks the start of a new era in ocean exploration." | "The trenches are virtually unexplored, and I am absolutely certain Nereus will enable new discoveries. I believe it marks the start of a new era in ocean exploration." |
| The Challenger Deep is the deepest-known part of the ocean, and part of the Marianas Trench near the island of Guam in the west Pacific. | The Challenger Deep is the deepest-known part of the ocean, and part of the Marianas Trench near the island of Guam in the west Pacific. |
| It is the deepest abyss on Earth at 11,000m-deep, more than 2km (1.2 miles) deeper than Mount Everest is high. At that depth, pressures reach 1,100 times those at the surface. | It is the deepest abyss on Earth at 11,000m-deep, more than 2km (1.2 miles) deeper than Mount Everest is high. At that depth, pressures reach 1,100 times those at the surface. |
| As a result, only two vehicles have ever made the trip to its crushing depths. | As a result, only two vehicles have ever made the trip to its crushing depths. |
| In January 1960, Jacques Piccard and Don Walsh made the first and only manned voyage in a Swiss-built bathyscaphe known as the Trieste. | In January 1960, Jacques Piccard and Don Walsh made the first and only manned voyage in a Swiss-built bathyscaphe known as the Trieste. |
| The vessel consisted of a 2m-diameter (6ft) steel sphere containing the crew suspended below a huge 15m-long (50ft) tank of petrol, designed to provide buoyancy. | The vessel consisted of a 2m-diameter (6ft) steel sphere containing the crew suspended below a huge 15m-long (50ft) tank of petrol, designed to provide buoyancy. |
| During the nine-hour mission, the two men spent just 20 minutes on the ocean floor; enough time to measure the depth as 10,916m (35,813 ft). | During the nine-hour mission, the two men spent just 20 minutes on the ocean floor; enough time to measure the depth as 10,916m (35,813 ft). |
| Nereus aims to give researchers access to 100% of the seafloor | Nereus aims to give researchers access to 100% of the seafloor |
| No manned submersible has ever repeated the dive. | No manned submersible has ever repeated the dive. |
| However, 35 years later, a Japanese remote-controlled vehicle called Kaiko returned, setting a depth record for unmanned exploration. | However, 35 years later, a Japanese remote-controlled vehicle called Kaiko returned, setting a depth record for unmanned exploration. |
| During its dive, the vehicle recorded a depth of 10,911m (35,797ft). It was also able to recover a sediment core and record pictures of life, including a sea cucumber, a worm and a shrimp. | During its dive, the vehicle recorded a depth of 10,911m (35,797ft). It was also able to recover a sediment core and record pictures of life, including a sea cucumber, a worm and a shrimp. |
| Unlike Nereus, Kaiko had to rely on a cable connected to a ship at the surface for power and control. | Unlike Nereus, Kaiko had to rely on a cable connected to a ship at the surface for power and control. |
| The Japanese craft was lost in 2003 on an unrelated dive when a cable connecting it to its control ship snapped. | The Japanese craft was lost in 2003 on an unrelated dive when a cable connecting it to its control ship snapped. |
| Currently, the deepest-rated vehicles are able to descend to 6,500m, allowing scientists access to 95% of the seafloor. | Currently, the deepest-rated vehicles are able to descend to 6,500m, allowing scientists access to 95% of the seafloor. |
| Nereus aims to change this to 100%, whilst also allowing scientists to survey a much larger area than vehicles like Kaiko. | Nereus aims to change this to 100%, whilst also allowing scientists to survey a much larger area than vehicles like Kaiko. |
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| Nereus can be transformed into a remote-controlled vehicle (animation courtesy of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution) | Nereus can be transformed into a remote-controlled vehicle (animation courtesy of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution) |