BANGKOK, July 9, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – American tech entrepreneur Elon Musk has
proposed a mini-submarine to save the boys trapped inside a flooded Thai
cave, floating the idea on social media while linking it to his space
exploration business.
After garnering headlines with initial ideas of installing a giant air
tube inside the cave complex and using his firm’s penetrating radar to dig
holes to reach the boys, Musk’s latest concept is the pod.
“Primary path is basically a tiny, kid-size submarine using the liquid
oxygen transfer tube of Falcon rocket as hull,” Musk said in a tweet to his
22 million followers.
“Light enough to be carried by 2 divers, small enough to get through
narrow gaps. Extremely robust.”
An accompanying video of people testing the submarine in a swimming pool
in Los Angeles that was posted overnight Sunday attracted more than 3.1
million views in 10 hours.
Many people offered positive comments, with fans hailing Musk and his
engineers for their creativity.
Other people, however, questioned whether Musk’s plan was credible.
“Seriously? No kid or adult will want to be in there for any amount of
time. Re think this. CAT or open MRI machines create unsurmountable anxiety.
Go back to drawing board,” one person wrote to Musk on Twitter.
The mini-submarine is due to arrive in Thailand on Monday, Musk wrote.
Last week Musk said he was sending teams to Thailand from his private
space exploration firm, SpaceX, and engineering firm, Boring Co. which is
developing tunneling systems for transport projects.
While offering the mini-submarine as a potential saviour, Musk again used
the opportunity to promote space exploration.
“With some mods, this could also work as an escape pod in space,” Musk
said on Twitter.
Thai authorities have said they are welcoming all offers of help in the
rescue effort for the boys, who became trapped in a complex cave system in
mountainous northern Thailand on June 23 when rising waters hemmed them in.
Twelve boys aged from 11 to 16, plus their 25-year-old coach, were caught
inside the cave.
Elite divers began a rescue mission Sunday, successfully escorting four of
them out, and were aiming to extract the others swiftly before fresh monsoon
rains made escape impossible.