February 6, 2004
Aptly named, Mrs. Crabby McCrab (actually a squat lobster) was found lodged in the exterior shell of Alvin after Tuesday's dive. The red 'caviar' are its eggs.
As usual, the day on Atlantis began with some people getting up and some going to sleep - we are working 24/7. Rabbit cam flyers on the "night shift" navigated another successful transect of the EPR axis, obtaining seafloor imagery and magnetic intensities. Fueled by M&M's, two close encounters with seafloor obstacles were nearly forgotten in the thrill of a complete 8 for 8 sampling ball recovery.
Much of the afternoon was spent anticipating the reemergence of Alvin. Maurice Tivey and Ken Sims reported a successful dive where they collected 11 lava samples and lots of video and still imagery of the seafloor. Maps of their dive area created from micro-bathymetry collected on a previous cruise proved an indispensable tool for finding their way to features of interest on the seafloor. They examined and sampled the fronts and tops of overlapping lava flows that appear in map view as would shingles on a rooftop.
Congratulations and Thanks to the Alvin Group for all their hard work over the past few days to fix the sub!
(Left) Wolfgang Bach examines a lava sample. (Center) Cara Santelli excitedly retrieves a sample from the Alvin basket as Kang Ding (left) and Maurice Tivey (right) watch in anticipation. (Right) Mike Perfit, scientist and NASCAR enthusiast, explains the origin of stock car racing as Cara listens patiently.
Following tradition, Ken was doused with ice water once he was on deck, a rite of passage reserved for first-time divers in Alvin.
To illustrate the constant drive for technological advance in deep-sea exploration, below is a digitally recorded transcript of the observers from today's Alvin dive that has been automatically translated using the latest voice recognition software…
"a little world official little numeral English open more often auto all day, who of May Curie was in his Thornton only and all the little one little numeral, and oh with little, on one loyal or little thought he threw and and in the little, relief law the little numeral little little little or are here here here loyal to his Aldridge and lunch little one loyal little or the girl to somewhat for little, whom the only report of all forms's recent little initial wound launch can traditionally all here here little numeral little little's through little almost Haughey"
…Obviously, a work in progress.
Dan Fornari and Mark Spear, one of Alvin's Pilots-in-Training (PITs) discuss how the Alvin dive is progressing in the Top Lab.
After an unsuccessful mission, the "Rat" Cam was recovered by Atlantis' deck crew led by Bosun Pat Hennessey. Dan thinks the problem may be the deep sea 'on/off' switches.
The system will be examined and redeployed later in the cruise.