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Swiss oceanologist and explorer Jacques Piccard has died today at his home, at the age of 86. Together with Don Walsh, he was one of two men to reach the deepest point in the Earth oceans, 10911 meters into the Challenger's Deep on January 23, 1960 aboard the bathyscaphe Trieste.
Later, he designed the mesoscaphe, a medium-depth research submarine. On one of those, the Ben Franklin, he and an international crew explored the Gulf Stream on the same days the Apollo 11 made its voyage to the Moon. The mission was also used to evaluate future spaceship designs.
If you can get hold of a copy, read his book The Sun beneath the Sea. It's well worth it.
Later, he designed the mesoscaphe, a medium-depth research submarine. On one of those, the Ben Franklin, he and an international crew explored the Gulf Stream on the same days the Apollo 11 made its voyage to the Moon. The mission was also used to evaluate future spaceship designs.
If you can get hold of a copy, read his book The Sun beneath the Sea. It's well worth it.