Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Emergency Mine Rescue (NOVA & PBS NewsHour)

This one-hour film chronicles the fate of the 33 miners trapped in a collapsed Chilean gold and copper mine in August 2010 and investigates the many challenges faced by both the miners and those working around the clock to bring them safely to the surface. NOVA was on-site at the San José mine in Chile by early September. Conferred special access, NOVA’s film crew interviewed engineers, NASA experts, medical personnel, and key figures from the companies that provided drills and crucial rescue equipment to give a more detailed scientific account of the unfolding events. The resulting film, using footage from the scene as well as advanced animation, showcases the extraordinary feats of engineering as well as the biological and geological factors inherent in the rescue. “Emergency Mine Rescue” also examines the psychological and physiological impact of this kind of prolonged ordeal on the miners and those involved in the rescue efforts.
I'm posting this simply because I find it amazing, fascinating and inspiring. 65 days underground, one sip of milk and a teaspoon of tuna every two days, three completely separate drilling plans and worldwide involvement.

The special NOVA presentation can be found here.

PBS Newshour has a preview of the show, as well as a really interesting interview with one of the general contractors on the rescue project (and CEO of the company that created part the successful "Plan B" technology). The segment can be found here - it starts at timecode 40:47.

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