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Billionaire technician Elon Musk sends a team of SpaceX engineers and boring company to help more and more desperate efforts to rescue a dozen boys and their soccer coach from a soggy cave in Thailand.
in the cave complex of Tham Luang, nearly two weeks ago, when floods from a sudden downpour caught them. Divers were able to reach the boys on Monday, perched on a rocky slab above the water level. But Thursday, one of the volunteer rescuers died during a one – hour dive to bring oxygen to the group.
One of the Musk fans tweeted this week for Musk to intervene. Musk agreed to put on his cap and finally do more than think about that. James Yenbamroong, the founder of Thai start-up Mu Space, facilitated contacts with the Thai government
Here's how it all happened on Twitter:
Hi sir, if possible, can you help the 12 Thai boys? and their trainer out of the cave. @elonmusk
– MabzMagz (@MabzMagz) July 3, 2018
I suspect that the Thai government has this control under control, but I am happy to help if there is has a way to do it
– Elon Musk (@elonmusk) 4 July 2018
Thanks @elonmusk . That's really all I ask. that you follow updates on the situation and maybe you could find something. Some of us can only pray, but you can do more. We know you're not an Ironman (… no?). Cheers
– MabzMagz (@MabzMagz) 4 July 2018
Boring Co has an advanced ground penetration system and is very effective at digging holes. I do not know if the flow of the pump is limited by electrical energy or if the pumps are too small. If so, could the dropship fully charge Powerpacks and pumps?
– Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 5, 2018
The SpaceX team contacted us today to help connect with the Thai government. Our team is connected and has provided some preparation feedback to your team. For pumps, the cave has the narrowest section of 70cm and about 5km to 13 types. For vertical exercise, it is about 1/2 mile and delicate
– James Yenbamroong (@JamesWorldSpace) July 5, 2018
Maybe worth trying out: insert a tube nylon 1m diameter most difficult sections) through the network of caves and inflate with air like an inflatable castle. Should create a tunnel under water against the roof of the cave and automatically conform to bizarre shapes like the 70cm hole
– Elon Musk (@elonmusk) 6 July 2018
You would need of an airlock at both ends [19659008] – key leader (@chiefpad) 6 July 2018
Have a small Velcro slit in and out in the circumferential direction (half-stress of longitudinal direction) [19659008] – Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 6, 2018
If you build the output like this NASA MESH airlock, put the zipper along one of the lines, the effort on the zipper is essentially zero. Like a Mylar birthday balloon along one of the wrinkles. I can tell you how my colleagues work at NASA Langley. They have prototypes. pic.twitter.com/1d3PmkOhWO
– Chris (Robotbeat) ??? (@Robotbeat) July 6, 2018
As long as the airflow exceeds the leak rate, the tube remains inflated. This is how bouncy castles or inflatable labyrinths work. Needs very little power because the work done (physical work) is low. Pump water faster than it enters the cave system, it is probably 10X to 1000X more power
– Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 6, 2018
It's a 5 hour race to get there.
– The butler of my cats ? (@ladykayaker) July 6, 2018
The walking speed is about 5 km / h, but if you are in an air tube, time is not much of importance. If the diameter of the tube was 1.5 m, a brisk walk of 5 km would take about 40 minutes. Just need to bend down for the narrow sections
– Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 6, 2018
Good idea. Looking in the cross sections and lengths of each section. The critical section of 70 cm has a length of 15 m. And we believe 2 km from the entrance where the pumps should be. pic.twitter.com/RxmrBfpFgG
– James Yenbamroong (@JamesWorldSpace) July 6, 2018
This image makes it simple. The critical area of 70 cm is in the center. Several dives and two rest areas between the two before arriving at 13 Thai forts. You probably need several inserts if you go with a funnel solution pic.twitter.com/1Pz6vd7U4N
– James Yenbamroong (@JamesWorldSpace) July 6, 2018
Looks like the first piece of water is close enough to the entrance to be pumped. The 2nd and 3rd would need batteries, air pumps and tubes. If the depth of the 2nd is accurate, it should ~ 0.5 bar of pressure of the tube. Probably need to get into the tube, zip up and then in transit.
– Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 6, 2018
SpaceX & Boring Co engineers are heading to Thailand tomorrow to see if we can be useful to the government. There are probably many complexities that are difficult to appreciate without being there in person
– Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 6, 2018
Thank you for trying to help the Thais . Your team has been in touch to discuss the initial plan and how to tackle the complex part with accurate and useful data, such as turns, elevation and underwater expertise. Our engineers are committed and ready to facilitate as needed
– James Yenbamroong (@JamesWorldSpace) July 6, 2018
They also consider where the water should go, it's like pumping the water. 39, water the size of the river on the 1st. If the battery packs and pumps can be moved and used on the 2nd critical to get this dry, another solution may be possible. Thanks to the sending team to look into this challenge
– James Yenbamroong (@JamesWorldSpace) July 6, 2018
The Rescue Tube "Inflatable Castle" from Musk is just a ideas in the mix. Others include trying to drill a hole in the cave chamber from the top; remove rock debris from what could be a rear entrance to the room; NASA Watch has forwarded another suggestion from Homer Hickam, the former NASA engineer who wrote the book "October Sky". Hickam said divers could deliver modeled human-sized life-saving bullets. after NASA's Personal Rescue Enclosures, or PREs. The trapped teammates would be sealed in the sealed balls, one at a time, and shot through the cave tunnel to safety.
"It would be great if someone knowing the PRE at NASA (probably at JSC) could dust off one of those two things and see if our agency could help this rather desperate situation, if not with the PRE, then other life-saving devices that we could have on hand or quickly fabricated, "writes Hickam.
Desperate times call for desperate but not dangerously desperate measures. Rescue presents enormous risks, especially when there is little time to test them.
It may well be that the best solution is the judicious use of proven techniques. Removing Debris But at the very least, suggestions show that some of the world's most innovative minds – and the hive spirit of the Internet – are on the bargain.
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