Thai rescuers locate 12 missing boys and coach alive in flooded cave

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Artorias

Platinum Member
Feb 8, 2014
2,147
1,431
136
I know this is like the 1st thing they probably thought about but why cant they just dig a hole straight down into the cave they are in?

If they can supply them oxygen, food, and give them social support, I rather they have them wait it out and use the full proof strategy.
 

jpiniero

Lifer
Oct 1, 2010
15,163
5,695
136
I know this is like the 1st thing they probably thought about but why cant they just dig a hole straight down into the cave they are in?

They are looking into it actually but it will take a long time to drill a hole that far. If they manage to live that long the water levels would probably recede by then.
 

Darwin333

Lifer
Dec 11, 2006
19,946
2,329
126
we just had a green beret dying yesterday trying to get them out. This would make me hesitant.

Hesitant? They are very likely going to drown in the upcoming deluge and if they don't they will run out of air and slowly suffocate. Would you honestly rather watch either of those scenarios versus trying to dive them out?
 

Darwin333

Lifer
Dec 11, 2006
19,946
2,329
126
I know this is like the 1st thing they probably thought about but why cant they just dig a hole straight down into the cave they are in?

If they can supply them oxygen, food, and give them social support, I rather they have them wait it out and use the full proof strategy.

The ground hasn't been surveyed well at all, there is no good access for the type of very heavy equipment that will be required and frankly even if they had all of those things it would still take too long. The kids are in danger of drowning in days not the month, very likely two months or more, that safely drilling a hole would require.
 

tynopik

Diamond Member
Aug 10, 2004
5,245
500
126
Hesitant? They are very likely going to drown in the upcoming deluge and if they don't they will run out of air and slowly suffocate. Would you honestly rather watch either of those scenarios versus trying to dive them out?

the problem is that a rescue scenario doesn't just risk the lives of those trapped, it risks the lives of the divers too

if they have another couple divers die without getting anyone out and a corpse gets trapped in a narrow passageway and blocks further contact, well, at some point you're just throwing good lives after bad
 

Zeze

Lifer
Mar 4, 2011
11,395
1,180
126
Too lazy to find go to my history but Elon Musk just tweeted he's sending a custom SpaceX shell that'll be completed 8 hours. That can be used as a ultralight mini head-submarine to carry 2 kids. Google that.
 

jpiniero

Lifer
Oct 1, 2010
15,163
5,695
136
Media has apparently been kicked out, leading to speculation that they are gearing up for extraction soon.
 

IronWing

No Lifer
Jul 20, 2001
70,210
28,910
136
One lesson from the Chilean mine rescue is that you start working on all feasible approaches simultaneously and let them race. You don't wait for one method to fail before trying another. They had drills running while exploring underground. They had multiple rigs punching holes trying to locate the miners and once they found them, they had three different rigs using different technologies running. Rock drills can penetrate limestone at a rate of 55-90 ft/hr, plenty fast if the goal is to get oxygen to the cave.
 
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ultimatebob

Lifer
Jul 1, 2001
25,134
2,446
126
Dumb question... Are the Thai rescuers actually planning on using Elon's mini sub, or is this just a clever PR stunt for him?
 

Darwin333

Lifer
Dec 11, 2006
19,946
2,329
126
Thai authorities have announced that the area has been evacuated so that rescue operations can take place.
 

Darwin333

Lifer
Dec 11, 2006
19,946
2,329
126
Dumb question... Are the Thai rescuers actually planning on using Elon's mini sub, or is this just a clever PR stunt for him?

I think Musk is legitimately trying to help but from the timetable I don't think his idea is going to be used.
 

IndyColtsFan

Lifer
Sep 22, 2007
33,655
687
126
Thai authorities have announced that the area has been evacuated so that rescue operations can take place.

Link?

I’m skeptical of how well Musk’s idea would work given the super tight areas of the cave and the length of time it takes to go from the entrance to where the kids are. I’m not sure the authorities can afford to wait long enough to find out.
 

Darwin333

Lifer
Dec 11, 2006
19,946
2,329
126
And I agree about the time factor. I think Must thought he had a lot more time to work with but no way you could test his system to any sort of confidence level in the time they are now working with. Still gotta give him kudos for trying.
 

WelshBloke

Lifer
Jan 12, 2005
31,441
9,343
136
Dumb question... Are the Thai rescuers actually planning on using Elon's mini sub, or is this just a clever PR stunt for him?
Its Musk being a dick. He either knows what that cave system is like and knows that theres no chance of getting a sub down there and exploiting this for publicity or he doesn't realise what the cave system is like because he couldn't be arsed to find out before trying to exploit the situation for publicity. Either way hes being a dick.
 

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
57,981
8,219
126
Its Musk being a dick. He either knows what that cave system is like and knows that theres no chance of getting a sub down there and exploiting this for publicity or he doesn't realise what the cave system is like because he couldn't be arsed to find out before trying to exploit the situation for publicity. Either way hes being a dick.
A sub would absolutely work. The only variable is getting it built in time. It only has to be slightly bigger than a human, and can be articulated to get through bending passages.

People shit on Musk, then whine they want to make America great again. That's what he's doing. Bringing back the bold risky endeavors that made America great. If you aren't failing. you aren't trying hard enough.
 
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WelshBloke

Lifer
Jan 12, 2005
31,441
9,343
136
A sub would absolutely work. The only variable is getting it built in time. It only has to be slightly bigger than a human, and can be articulated to get through bending passages.

People shit on Musk, then whine they want to make America great again. That's what he's doing. Bringing back the bold risky endeavors that made America great. If you aren't failing. you aren't trying hard enough.

KIBdIR4.gif


no thanks
 

WelshBloke

Lifer
Jan 12, 2005
31,441
9,343
136
Slightly bigger than a human. He made it through.
Hes a squidgy meat sack though. Anything rigid his size isnt going to fit, plus any sub is going to be considerably (in this context of inches mattering) larger.
 

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
57,981
8,219
126
Hes a squidgy meat sack though. Anything rigid his size isnt going to fit, plus any sub is going to be considerably (in this context of inches mattering) larger.
There's a lot materials that could be used to reduce size. I think a shell could be made that's only 1" larger than a human, and as I said, it can be articulated to bend a bit around objects. It doesn't have to be comfortable, only functional.
 

WelshBloke

Lifer
Jan 12, 2005
31,441
9,343
136
There's a lot materials that could be used to reduce size. I think a shell could be made that's only 1" larger than a human, and as I said, it can be articulated to bend a bit around objects. It doesn't have to be comfortable, only functional.
But once you get it down to that size what are you going to achieve with it? It's going to be flimsy and harder to manoeuvre than not using one. Plus at an inch larger all round theres a good chance you are going to get stuck and block off the only exit.
 

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
57,981
8,219
126
But once you get it down to that size what are you going to achieve with it? It's going to be flimsy and harder to manoeuvre than not using one. Plus at an inch larger all round theres a good chance you are going to get stuck and block off the only exit.
You shouldn't have to maneuver it. It would be running along a tether. I would also expect them to make a test run first, and not yank so hard that you irretrievably wedge it in an opening.