07-06-2021 | 16:06 PM
Okeanos Explorer
The Okeanos Explorer is a ship built by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). It departed from Port Canaveral in Florida on May 14, 2021.
Okeanos Explorer:
• NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer is the only federal vessel dedicated to exploring our largely unknown ocean to discover and advance knowledge about the deep ocean.
• The Okeanos Explorer is the only NOAA ship to have a dedicated ROV. Although ROVs have been used on other NOAA ships, they are typically removed at the end of a mission. Having a permanent ROV makes it easier to deploy at any time.
• During the expedition, scientists reveal that the deep-water biodiversity in the Coral Triangle is comparable to that of its shallower waters. Up to 50 new species are discovered during the mission.
Orpheus:
• Usually, a large high-power location finding equipment such as Sonar will be required to navigate in the dark sea bed. Unlike such equipment, Orpheus uses a low-power system of cameras and lights and advanced software. It is lighter than the deep-sea submersibles.
• It weighs around 250 kilograms.
• It is designed to be nimble (quick and light movement), move easily in a rugged (broken or uneven rocky surface) environment. This kind of environment is usually inaccessible to most deep-sea vehicles.
