Thai cave: Elon Musk visits Thailand with prototype mini-sub
After promising help from SpaceX/Boring Company engineers for rescuing members of the youth soccer team trapped in Thailand's Tham Luang cave, it seems Elon Musk has kept his word. The American entrepreneur, on Tuesday, tweeted that he was in Thailand with a prototype mini-submarine for extracting the trapped boys and their coach. Meanwhile, rescue operations have already resulted in eight boys being rescued.
Musk visits the Thai cave with his prototype mini-sub
Musk had earlier suggested other solutions for the rescue
Musk had earlier grabbed headlines by saying that he would send engineers from SpaceX, and his engineering company, Boring Co., to Thailand to help with the rescue operations. Initially, he had also suggested solutions involving the installation of a giant air tube in the cave, and digging holes with Boring Co.'s "advanced ground penetrating radar". But it seems like he settled for a prototype mini-submarine instead.
Musk's mini-sub uses parts from the Falcon rocket
Musk described his prototype mini-sub as "basically a tiny, kid-size submarine using the liquid oxygen transfer tube of (a) Falcon rocket as hull". He added that it was light enough to be carried by two divers, small enough to fit through narrow gaps, and robust.
Final leg of rescue operations underway
Currently, the final leg of rescue operations is underway to extract the remaining four kids, and their coach, along with one doctor and the Thai Navy SEALs who have been keeping the boys' company. Despite torrential rain overnight, rescue conditions have reportedly not been negatively affected. At least 19 divers are involved in today's operation, which began at 10:08am local time.
Despite Musk's efforts, the prototype mini-sub will not be used
Yet, despite Musk's much publicized attempt to help extract the youth soccer team's members, the rescue chief has politely dismissed Musk's proposal. "Although his technology is good and sophisticated it's not practical for this mission," said Narongsak Osatanakorn, the chief of the joint command center that is coordinating rescue efforts at the Tham Luang cave.
