The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is currently utilizing its research vessel, Rainier, to conduct an extensive mapping mission of the Pacific seafloor, specifically targeting critical mineral deposits. This initiative, which spans over a month, includes the deployment of two innovative submersibles from Orpheus Ocean, a company that has emerged from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI). These uniquely designed, oblong submersibles are engineered to explore the dynamic marine environment, diving nearly 3,000 meters to navigate the soft seabed, where diverse life forms coexist alongside valuable metal nodules such as copper, cobalt, nickel, and manganese.
Orpheus Ocean aims to revolutionize deep-sea exploration through its cost-effective submersibles, which are significantly cheaper to produce, costing around $200,000 each, compared to traditional submersibles that can range from millions to tens of millions of dollars. Co-founder and CEO Jake Russell emphasizes the philosophy of making deep-sea exploration “deep for cheap.” These autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) have been rigorously tested, with capabilities to dive to the Mariana Trench’s depths and perform extensive sampling and imaging tasks. During this expedition, they will cover vast distances, capturing high-resolution images and collecting sediment samples, thereby offering critical insights into the understudied ecosystems of the deep sea.
The Orpheus submersibles stand out due to their compact design and advanced capabilities. Unlike traditional AUVs, these vehicles can effectively land on the seafloor to extract sediment cores, facilitating a more thorough investigation of the ocean’s biogeochemical systems. While previous explorations often relied on limited access to expensive vessels, the affordability and accessibility of the Orpheus subs could democratize deep-sea research, allowing more scientists and institutions to study this largely unexplored frontier. As Russell notes, the region being surveyed is largely uncharted territory, promising new discoveries that could significantly enhance our understanding of oceanic ecosystems and the resources they hold.
Source: Inexpensive seafloor-hopping submersibles could stoke deep-sea science—and mining via MIT Technology Review