ABE had reached the seafloor to begin its 222nd research mission when, in the early hours of March 5, 2010, all contact with the surface vessel abruptly ceased. Researchers believe one of the glass spheres used to keep the vehicle buoyant may have imploded catastrophically, leaving behind no traces of ABE beyond its empty cradle on the ship. (Photo by Noah Brookoff. Image courtesy of INSPIRE: Chile Margin 2010.)[back]
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