Stay Curious

SIGN UP FOR OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER AND UNLOCK ONE MORE ARTICLE FOR FREE.

Sign Up

VIEW OUR Privacy Policy


Discover Magazine Logo

WANT MORE? KEEP READING FOR AS LOW AS $1.99!

Subscribe

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

FIND MY SUBSCRIPTION
Advertisement

What Comes After Oceangate?

A widely publicized deep-sea excursion leaves five dead, raising big questions for ocean exploration.

The ill-fated Titan submersible used a carbon fiber hull known to be unsuited for deep-sea exploration. (Credit: Associated Press)

Newsletter

Sign up for our email newsletter for the latest science news

Sign Up

For several days in June, millions around the globe were gripped by news of five people missing 12,500 feet under the ocean, lost while attempting to catch a glimpse of the wreckage of the RMS Titanic.

By the time evidence confirmed that their poorly designed submersible, the Titan, had imploded under the immense pressure of the deep, their fate was hardly a surprise.

Following the disaster, information came to light that the Titan did not meet industry safety standards: The carbon fiber cylinder making up the Titan’s hull was known to be inappropriate for deep sea craft, and OceanGate, the company that developed and operated the submersible, had a history of safety-related allegations.

Interview footage resurfaced of OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, who was aboard at the time and died in the disaster, boasting of breaking rules in the name of innovation. In addition, a group of professionals in the field ...

Stay Curious

JoinOur List

Sign up for our weekly science updates

View our Privacy Policy

SubscribeTo The Magazine

Save up to 40% off the cover price when you subscribe to Discover magazine.

Subscribe
Advertisement

0 Free Articles