Menu Close

Why did Ballard not continue his search immediately after finding the Titanic?

Why did Ballard not continue his search immediately after finding the Titanic?

Ballard knew the Navy mission would leave him with precious little time to seek out Titanic, so he asked the French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea, or IFREMER, to partner with him. With this in mind, he decided not to search for Titanic’s hull.

What did Ballard have to do before he could begin the main search?

He was required to first find the submarines on the seafloor and photograph them (a secret mission that Ballard didn’t reveal until 2008) before using the underwater robots to search for the Titanic. In the early hours of Sept. 1, Ballard, in conjunction with a French expedition, tracked a debris trail to the wreckage.

What was Ballard’s quest?

After Titanic, Ballard went on to discover the remains of John F. Kennedy’s World War II patrol boat, the German battleship Bismarck, and a number of ancient ships in the Black Sea.

Where is Bob Ballard now?

In 2004, Ballard was appointed professor of oceanography, and currently serves as Director of the Institute for Archaeological Oceanography, at the University of Rhode Island’s Graduate School of Oceanography.

Where is Alvin now?

As of early 2021 Alvin is in active service with the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. The research ship RV Atlantis serves as her support ship.

How much of the seafloor can Alvin reach?

98 percent
The sub will soon complete the final phase of its current upgrade, which will enable Alvin to dive to 6,500 meters (21,000 feet), putting 98 percent of the seafloor within its reach.

What kind of vehicle did Robert Ballard use?

Robert Ballard with Hercules, a remotely operated vehicle used for underwater exploration. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen, Corrections Manager.

Where did Robert Ballard dive in the ocean?

In 1973–75 he dived 9,000 feet (2,750 metres) in Alvin and in a French submersible to explore the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, an underwater mountain chain in the Atlantic Ocean. In 1977 and 1979 he was part of an expedition that uncovered thermal vents in the Galapagos Rift.

What was the name of the ship that carried Robert Ballard?

Most famously, Alvin was involved in the exploration of the wreckage of RMS Titanic in 1986. Launched from her support ship RV Atlantis II, she carried Dr. Robert Ballard and two companions to the wreckage of the great liner.

Where was Alvin when it sank in the Atlantic Ocean?

The three crew members managed to escape, but Alvin flooded and sank in 1,500 m (4,900 ft) of water in the Atlantic Ocean at approximately 39°53′30″N 069°15′30″W / 39.89167°N 69.25833°W / 39.89167; -69.25833 (“DSV Alvin”), about 88 nautical miles (101 miles; 163 km) south of Nantucket Island.