First American Woman to Walk in Space Reaches Deepest Spot in the Ocean

[Recursion]

Source: New York Times

The first American woman to walk in space has become the first woman to reach the deepest known spot in the ocean.

On Sunday, Kathy Sullivan, 68, an astronaut and oceanographer, emerged from her 35,810-foot dive to the Challenger Deep, according to EYOS Expeditions, a company coordinating the logistics of the mission.

This also makes Dr. Sullivan the first person to both walk in space and to descend to the deepest point in the ocean. The Challenger Deep is the lowest of the many seabed recesses that crisscross the globe.

Dr. Sullivan and Victor L. Vescovo, an explorer funding the mission, spent about an hour and a half at their destination, nearly seven miles down in a muddy depression in the Mariana Trench, which is about 200 miles southwest of Guam.

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/08/science/challenger-deep-kathy-sullivan-astronaut.html

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[KY_EnviroGuy]

1. And here I sit worried about going less than 7-miles to a hardware store.

Did Dr. Sullivan and Victor L. Vescovo wear their face masks?.......

Seriously, congratulations to Dr. Sullivan for advancing science and setting a fine example for our youth - particularly young women.

I'm sure she will come back and be sharing her experiences with young people interested in science across the nation!

KY........

[soothsayer]

2. That's a fascinating dichotomy of interests

Congrats to her!

Was hoping for deep ocean photos but enjoyed the space ones.

[lastlib]

6. Scott Carpenter, Mercury astronaut, was also an aquanaut.

Carpenter, who followed John Glenn into space in 1962, met Jacques Couteau, who encouraged him to join the Navy's SEALAB program in 1963. During his training he suffered injuries that disqualified him from further spaceflight. In 1965, he spent 28 days on the deep ocean floor off the coast of California. Later he founded Sea Sciences, Inc., a company devoted to developing ocean resources and environmental protections. He passed away in Oct. 2013.

As far as I can tell, he never did a super-deep dive like Ms. Sullivan did, though. This was very impressive!

[soothsayer]

11. Explorers gonna explore

That’s very interesting, thank you

[SheltieLover]

3. What a dynamic scientist!

[niyad]

4. Congratulations, Dr. Sullivan.. A truly inspiring achievement.

I was just talking to a friend the other day about deep ocean research, particularly the Mariana Trench. Can't wait to share this news.

[keithbvadu2]

5. Life has its ups and downs.

[lastlib]

8. Going seven miles down in an ocean is a lot like being on another planet....

It's amazing that something can be built to withstand those pressures! nearly eight TONS per square inch!

[CRK7376]

7. That's really cool.

Physically and mentally.

[matt819]

9. Self-quarantining is one thing

Going almost 7 miles under the sea is something entirely different.

That is just so amazing. 7 miles under the sea!!

[Delphinus]

13. I know!

Kind of mind-boggling, isn't it? In a good way.

[littlemissmartypants]

10. Congratulations, Dr. Sullivan! Thank you for being a role model for adventurous souls everywhere. ❤

[LastLiberal in PalmSprings]

12. Pressure in orbit is near 0; pressure at bottom of Mariana Trench is 8 tons per square inch

That's quite a difference. What they have in common is that if you're exposed without proper protection, you're dead.

[hamsterjill]

14. Wow!!! What an inspiration!

My hat’s off to her. She’s one accomplished and brave woman.

[electric_blue68]

15. Fantastic!

Congratulations, Dr Sullivan!
Visiting two dynamicly opposed dangerous and amazing environments, though they're both dark!

I believe the former record holding woman for deepest dive is Dr Sylvia Earle - "Her Deepness", and I think she's friends with Dr Sullivan! Heard ?️ Dr Earle in a lecture 30 yrs ago.