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Nigel Jones and Richie Hudson lower the sonar head/inertial navigation system to the propulsion end of the mapper (capably supervised by John Buxton) [photo ©1998 Barbara Anne am Ende]. |
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Nigel Jones and Richie Hudson lower the sonar head/inertial navigation system to the propulsion end of the mapper (capably supervised by John Buxton) [photo ©1998 Barbara Anne am Ende]. |
John Buxton, Patty Mortara, Brett
Evans, and Nigel Jones prepare to take the mapper for its
first drive at Wakulla since the June 1998 tests. All
systems powered up properly and we will be training various
members of the lead dive teams to operate it over the next
few days [photo ©1998 Steven J.
Auer].
The transfer capsule was lowered
and raised for the first time today. The capsule was
pressurized for the first time as well to twice the maximum
operating depth anticipated at Wakulla (43 m /140 feet).
After pressurization the capsule was lowered into the water
to look for leaks in the numerous pneumatic fittings. Brian
Kakuk directs the operations. [photo ©1998 Steven
J. Auer].
Andrew Poole pressurizes the
decompression chamber from the main control room. [photo
©1998 Steven J. Auer].
Brian Kakuk (shown here) and Andrew
Poole successfully pressurizeded the transfer capsule and
the main chamber while they were coupled together. No leaks
were detected, thus establishing that divers will be able to
safely use each portion of the system [photo ©1998
Barbara Anne am Ende].
Birthdays abound in December. Noel
was a little more successful at blowing out the candles on
his cake (held by Becky Copiskey) than was Bill Stone (the
smaller cake with closer placed candles helped!) [photo
©1998 Barbara Anne am Ende].
Brian Pease set up the differential GPS equipment at a benchmark on
the boat dock. He collected data for an hour, downloaded it to a
computer, and determined the average location. Brian plotted the
location on the topographic map with the location plotting exactly
where it should have.
Meanwhile, divers Paul Heinerth, Rick Stanton, and Jason Mallinson laid 400 meters of new permanent line in A-Tunnel out to well beyond the D-Tunnel junction. During their 35 minute trip at 88 meters the average gas consumption was 36 liters (about 1.3 cu.ft.) of oxygen and 315 liters (11 cu.ft.) of heliox.
Copyright ©1998, U.S. Deep Caving Team, Inc. All rights reserved. No portion of these pages may be used for any reason without prior written authorization.
