<p>Virgin Galactic is all set for launch of Galactic 01, the first commercial spaceflight. On June 29, four crew members will take-off for a suborbital spaceflight ushering in, as many expect, a new era in spacefaring.</p>

<p>But the recent tragedy of OceanGate submersible has sparked debate about safety in expeditions which, relatively recently,&nbsp;are opening up to tourism. While no one denies importance of safety, voices from the corporate world have often said that it stifles creativitry in designing these vessels.</p>

<p>In the immediate aftermath of OceanGate tragedy, media reports had quoted the company's CEO Stockton Rush dismissing need to invest more in safety during one of his previous interviews. Rush was one of five killed in OceanGate submersible implosion near the wreck of the Titanic.</p>

<p>Tomaso Sgobba, a former head of space safety at the European Space Agency (ESA) told Space.com that OceanGate tragedy is a wake up call to ensure that space tourism, the next frontier emphasises on safety of those travelling.</p>

<h2><strong>'An analogue'</strong></h2>

<p>"It is exactly the kind of scenario that would trigger a big discussion if it were to happen in a space tourism flight," said Sgobba, who is now executive director of the International Association of the Advancement of Space Safety (IAASS)</p>

<p>"In fact, we have a sort of an analogue here. You have a technology that goes into an extreme environment for the purpose of pleasure that doesn't give much chance to people to survive if something goes badly wrong."</p>

<p>The Commercial Spaceflight Federation represents space tourism companies in the US. Space.com said that it did nor respond to request for a comment but that its president Karina Drees had argued against safety regulations in past in a previous interview with the website.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/virgin-galactic-prepares-for-first-commercial-spaceflight-announces-crew-members-609205">Virgin Galactic prepares for first commercial spaceflight, announces crew members</a></strong></p>

<p>"The vehicles that have been designed today are quite different from each other," Drees told Space.com at the time. "And so if regulations had been written on any one style, then that would have really prevented some of these designs from coming to the market."</p>

<p>Sgobba objected to this arguement</p>

<p>"The certification is essentially a peer-review of your design by an expert," Sgobba said. "Instead of waiting for an accident, you perform your hazard analysis in advance. The solution to your hazard analysis is entirely in your design and you get input from other people who understand this matter and that can help you to make your product as safe as possible," he said.</p>

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Virgin Galactic is all set for launch of Galactic 01, the first commercial spaceflight. On June 29, four crew members will take-off for a suborbital spaceflight ushering in, as many expect, a new era in spacefaring.

Virgin Galactic is all set for launch of Galactic 01, the first commercial spaceflight. On June 29, four crew members will take-off for a suborbital spaceflight ushering in, as many expect, a new era in spacefaring. But the recent tragedy of OceanGate submersible has sparked debate about safety in expeditions which, relatively recently, are opening up to tourism. While no one denies importance of safety, voices from the corporate world have often said that it stifles creativitry in designing these vessels. In the immediate aftermath of OceanGate tragedy, media reports had quoted the company's CEO Stockton Rush dismissing need to invest more in safety during one of his previous interviews. Rush was one of five killed in OceanGate submersible implosion near the wreck of the Titanic. Tomaso Sgobba, a former head of space safety at the European Space Agency (ESA) told Space.com that OceanGate tragedy is a wake up call to ensure that space tourism, the next frontier emphasises on safety of those travelling. 'An analogue' "It is exactly the kind of scenario that would trigger a big discussion if it were to happen in a space tourism flight," said Sgobba, who is now executive director of the International Association of the Advancement of Space Safety (IAASS) "In fact, we have a sort of an analogue here. You have a technology that goes into an extreme environment for the purpose of pleasure that doesn't give much chance to people to survive if something goes badly wrong." The Commercial Spaceflight Federation represents space tourism companies in the US. Space.com said that it did nor respond to request for a comment but that its president Karina Drees had argued against safety regulations in past in a previous interview with the website. Also Read | Virgin Galactic prepares for first commercial spaceflight, announces crew members "The vehicles that have been designed today are quite different from each other," Drees told Space.com at the time. "And so if regulations had been written on any one style, then that would have really prevented some of these designs from coming to the market." Sgobba objected to this arguement "The certification is essentially a peer-review of your design by an expert," Sgobba said. "Instead of waiting for an accident, you perform your hazard analysis in advance. The solution to your hazard analysis is entirely in your design and you get input from other people who understand this matter and that can help you to make your product as safe as possible," he said. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

As Virgin Galactic launch nears, OceanGate tragedy sparks safety debate

<p>The United States Coast Guard has launched an investigation that will recover debris from the Titan submersible disaster. The investigation will look into what caused the tragic implosion that killed five people.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Debris and human remains</strong></h2>

<p>As per Guardian, speaking at a press conference in Boston, Chief investigator Captain Jason Neubauer said that the priority is recovering debris from the vessel. He added that precautions will be taken in case human remains are found.</p>

<p>The investigation, as per him, will be jointly run by Canadian, UK and French authorities and it will able to predict whether civil or criminal charges are to be imposed.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/titan-submersible-support-ship-polar-prince-returns-to-port-flags-at-half-mast-as-probe-commences-608346">Titan submersible support ship Polar Prince returns to port, with flags at half-mast</a></strong></p>

<p>Talking to reporters, Captain Neubauer said that the US Coast Guard has launched its highest level of investigation.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>How long will the investigation take?</strong></h2>

<p>As per Captain Jason Neubauer, at this time it can't be confirmed how long the investigation will last. However, as per BBC, he confirmed that it would lead to tougher regulations and safety regulations for submersibles.</p>

<h2><strong>Why recover the wreckage?</strong></h2>

<p>For the purpose of this investigation, the recovery of the debris is important, and efforts are being made to do so.</p>

<p>The Coast Guard is working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to conduct the salvage operation at the debris site on the seabed about 2-1/2 miles (4 km) below the surface or about 1,600 feet (488 meters) from the bow of the Titanic wreck, reports Reuters.</p>

<p>As of now, investigators have recovered five pieces of the Titan. They were found at 3,800 metres (12,467 ft), in a large debris field near the bow of the Titanic.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-titan-submersible-incident-did-it-really-boost-my-heart-will-go-on-popularity-608230">Titan submersible incident: Did it really boost 'My Heart Will Go On' popularity?</a></strong></p>

<p>The investigation will attempt to establish what caused the disaster, which would subsequently help make recommendations to prevent future tragedies.</p>

<p>"My primary goal is to prevent a similar occurrence by making the necessary recommendations to enhance the safety of the maritime domain worldwide," said the Coast Guard's chief investigator.</p>

<p>He also said that the Coast Guard is in touch with the families of the five people who died in the implosion and that investigators are "taking all precautions on site if we are to encounter any human remains."</p>

<p>Talking to reporters US Coast Guard Rear Admiral John Mauger declined to share details about the cost of the search and rescue operation, reports BBC.</p>

<p>However, he reportedly said that it was not a policy to charge for search and rescue. He added that the service does not put a cost on human life or rescue people in the "dangerous environment" of the ocean, adding "we always answer the call".</p>

<p>"We conduct disciplined operations with warranted risk to put our resources and lives at risk to save others. That's who we are."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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The United States Coast Guard has launched an investigation that will recover debris from the Titan submersible disaster. The investigation will look into what caused the tragic implosion that killed five people.

The United States Coast Guard has launched an investigation that will recover debris from the Titan submersible disaster. The investigation will look into what caused the tragic implosion that killed five people. Debris and human remains As per Guardian, speaking at a press conference in Boston, Chief investigator Captain Jason Neubauer said that the priority is recovering debris from the vessel. He added that precautions will be taken in case human remains are found. The investigation, as per him, will be jointly run by Canadian, UK and French authorities and it will able to predict whether civil or criminal charges are to be imposed. Also read | Titan submersible support ship Polar Prince returns to port, with flags at half-mast Talking to reporters, Captain Neubauer said that the US Coast Guard has launched its highest level of investigation. How long will the investigation take? As per Captain Jason Neubauer, at this time it can't be confirmed how long the investigation will last. However, as per BBC, he confirmed that it would lead to tougher regulations and safety regulations for submersibles. Why recover the wreckage? For the purpose of this investigation, the recovery of the debris is important, and efforts are being made to do so. The Coast Guard is working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to conduct the salvage operation at the debris site on the seabed about 2-1/2 miles (4 km) below the surface or about 1,600 feet (488 meters) from the bow of the Titanic wreck, reports Reuters. As of now, investigators have recovered five pieces of the Titan. They were found at 3,800 metres (12,467 ft), in a large debris field near the bow of the Titanic. Also read | Titan submersible incident: Did it really boost 'My Heart Will Go On' popularity? The investigation will attempt to establish what caused the disaster, which would subsequently help make recommendations to prevent future tragedies. "My primary goal is to prevent a similar occurrence by making the necessary recommendations to enhance the safety of the maritime domain worldwide," said the Coast Guard's chief investigator. He also said that the Coast Guard is in touch with the families of the five people who died in the implosion and that investigators are "taking all precautions on site if we are to encounter any human remains." Talking to reporters US Coast Guard Rear Admiral John Mauger declined to share details about the cost of the search and rescue operation, reports BBC. However, he reportedly said that it was not a policy to charge for search and rescue. He added that the service does not put a cost on human life or rescue people in the "dangerous environment" of the ocean, adding "we always answer the call". "We conduct disciplined operations with warranted risk to put our resources and lives at risk to save others. That's who we are." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

US Coast Guard launches investigation to recover Titan submersible debris, to lookout for human remains

<p>Polar Prince, the support ship of the Titan submersible, that met a tragic fate&nbsp;while on an expedition to the Titanic wreck, has returned and been docked in St John's, Newfoundland on Saturday. The flags on the ship were flown at half-mast as a mark of respect for the lives lost in the unfortunate turn of events.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Canadian investigators have taken steps to unravel the circumstances leading to the catastrophic implosion of the Titan submersible by boarding the support ship involved in the launch.</p>

<p>Another boat was observed towing the Titan's launch platform in the harbour. The ill-fated dive to the Titanic wreckage resulted in the Titan collapsing, tragically claiming the lives of all five individuals on board.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/archaeologists-unearth-4000-year-old-stonehenge-burial-ground-in-the-netherlands-608203">Archaeologists unearth 4,000-year-old ‘Stonehenge’ burial ground in the Netherlands</a></p>

<p>Locals gathered near Battery Lookout's cannon in St John's at 08:00 (11:30 BST) to witness the return of the Polar Prince, and as some passengers disembarked, investigators, donning hard hats and high-visibility jackets, boarded the vessel.</p>

<p>Serving as the support ship for the Titan, the Polar Prince had previously towed the submersible to the North Atlantic location where the dive took place, approximately 400 miles away from St John's.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/google-rolls-out-perspectives-tab-in-major-search-engine-revamp-608201">Google rolls out 'Perspectives' tab in major search-engine revamp</a></p>

<p>Among those aboard were members of the support team and some family members of the victims. The ship also played a role in the search operation following the loss of contact with the Titan during its dive.</p>

<p>On Thursday, parts of the submersible were discovered on the ocean floor, located around 1,600 feet (487 metre) from the bow of the Titanic wreck.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In response, Canada announced the launch of a safety investigation on Friday, and it remains uncertain which country will lead the investigation, although other government agencies may participate.</p>

<p>In addition to scrutinising the Polar Prince's involvement, experts anticipate that the investigation will examine the materials used in constructing the submersible's outer walls.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | 'Putin's chef' vs Defence Minister: Where has Wagner operated?</strong></p>

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<p>Concerns about safety practices at OceanGate, the company that owned the Titan, have been raised by industry experts since news of the fatal accident emerged.</p>

<p>CEO of OceanGate, Stockton Rush, who was on board during the incident, had earlier dismissed safety concerns from one expert as "baseless cries" before being killed. This is according to emails obtained by the BBC. Deep-sea exploration expert Rob McCallum said the CEO expressed frustration towards industry players who employ safety concerns to impede innovation.&nbsp;The Titan also carried Shahzada and Suleman Dawood, Hamish Harding, and Paul-Henry Nargeolet as passengers.</p>

<p>The Titan submersible encountered communication failure approximately one hour and 45 minutes into its planned two-hour descent to the wreckage. The vessel was reported missing eight hours after the loss of contact.</p>

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Polar Prince, the support ship of the Titan submersible, that met a tragic fate while on an expedition to the Titanic wreck, has returned and been docked in St John's, Newfoundland on Saturday.

Polar Prince, the support ship of the Titan submersible, that met a tragic fate while on an expedition to the Titanic wreck, has returned and been docked in St John's, Newfoundland on Saturday. The flags on the ship were flown at half-mast as a mark of respect for the lives lost in the unfortunate turn of events. Canadian investigators have taken steps to unravel the circumstances leading to the catastrophic implosion of the Titan submersible by boarding the support ship involved in the launch. Another boat was observed towing the Titan's launch platform in the harbour. The ill-fated dive to the Titanic wreckage resulted in the Titan collapsing, tragically claiming the lives of all five individuals on board. Also Read | Archaeologists unearth 4,000-year-old ‘Stonehenge’ burial ground in the Netherlands Locals gathered near Battery Lookout's cannon in St John's at 08:00 (11:30 BST) to witness the return of the Polar Prince, and as some passengers disembarked, investigators, donning hard hats and high-visibility jackets, boarded the vessel. Serving as the support ship for the Titan, the Polar Prince had previously towed the submersible to the North Atlantic location where the dive took place, approximately 400 miles away from St John's. Also Read | Google rolls out 'Perspectives' tab in major search-engine revamp Among those aboard were members of the support team and some family members of the victims. The ship also played a role in the search operation following the loss of contact with the Titan during its dive. On Thursday, parts of the submersible were discovered on the ocean floor, located around 1,600 feet (487 metre) from the bow of the Titanic wreck. In response, Canada announced the launch of a safety investigation on Friday, and it remains uncertain which country will lead the investigation, although other government agencies may participate. In addition to scrutinising the Polar Prince's involvement, experts anticipate that the investigation will examine the materials used in constructing the submersible's outer walls. Watch | 'Putin's chef' vs Defence Minister: Where has Wagner operated? × Concerns about safety practices at OceanGate, the company that owned the Titan, have been raised by industry experts since news of the fatal accident emerged. CEO of OceanGate, Stockton Rush, who was on board during the incident, had earlier dismissed safety concerns from one expert as "baseless cries" before being killed. This is according to emails obtained by the BBC. Deep-sea exploration expert Rob McCallum said the CEO expressed frustration towards industry players who employ safety concerns to impede innovation. The Titan also carried Shahzada and Suleman Dawood, Hamish Harding, and Paul-Henry Nargeolet as passengers. The Titan submersible encountered communication failure approximately one hour and 45 minutes into its planned two-hour descent to the wreckage. The vessel was reported missing eight hours after the loss of contact. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

Titan submersible support ship Polar Prince returns to port, with flags at half-mast

<p>Many on the internet have been claiming that the recent Titan submersible incident helped Celine Dion's iconic song "My Heart Will Go On", from James Cameron's <em>Titanic </em>climb music streaming sites like Spotify and Billboard's charts. As per Snopes, this is not true. The song was absent from the Billboard Hot 100 chart for the week of June 24, 2023. It did not appear on the US top 200 daily songs lists on 19 June, 20 June, 21 June, or 22 June. The same applied to Spotify's Global top 200 daily songs lists for those dates, where also the song was not included.</p>

<h2><strong>Titan submersible incident</strong></h2>

<p>On June 18, 2023, in the North Atlantic Ocean, approximately 400 nautical miles (740 km) off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada, Titan, a submersible operated by OceanGate, an American tourism company, suffered a devastating implosion. The purpose of the dive was to explore the wreckage of the Titanic, with a crew of five individuals on board. Contact with Titan was lost after one hour and forty-five minutes into the dive, and it failed to resurface as planned, triggering immediate action by authorities.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Following an extensive search, a debris field containing parts of the ill-fated Titan has been discovered by a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV), located approximately 1,600 feet (about 500 meters) away from the bow of the Titanic. This discovery was based on declassified sonar data from the US Navy, which indicated an implosion in the area on the day of the incident. As a result, it was concluded that the pressure vessel of the submersible had imploded during its descent, leading to the instantaneous loss of all five crew members.</p>

<p>Prior to the incident, concerns had been raised about the safety of the vessel. OceanGate executives made the decision not to seek certification for Titan, citing that excessive safety protocols hindered innovation.&nbsp;</p>

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<h2><strong>James Cameron's comments on the submersible incident</strong></h2>

<p>Incidentally, Cameron has commented on the incident. During an interview with ABC News, the filmmaker said it is likely that the submersible, after losing all communication with the outside world during its deep-sea mission, was attempting to resurface. He also suggested that the five passengers aboard the vessel were probably aware of the problem before the catastrophic implosion occurred.</p>

<p>"This OceanGate sub had sensors on the inside of the hull to give them a warning when it was starting to crack. And I think, if that's your idea of safety, then you're doing it wrong," he said.</p>

<p>He further explained, "They probably had a warning that their hull was beginning to delaminate and develop cracks." Based on his knowledge within the community, Cameron added, "It's our belief that they had released their ascent weights and were attempting to surface, trying to manage an emergency situation."</p>

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Many on the internet have been claiming that the recent Titan submersible incident helped Celine Dion's iconic song "My Heart Will Go On", from James Cameron's Titanic climb music streaming sites like Spotify and Billboard's charts.

Many on the internet have been claiming that the recent Titan submersible incident helped Celine Dion's iconic song "My Heart Will Go On", from James Cameron's Titanic climb music streaming sites like Spotify and Billboard's charts. As per Snopes, this is not true. The song was absent from the Billboard Hot 100 chart for the week of June 24, 2023. It did not appear on the US top 200 daily songs lists on 19 June, 20 June, 21 June, or 22 June. The same applied to Spotify's Global top 200 daily songs lists for those dates, where also the song was not included. Titan submersible incident On June 18, 2023, in the North Atlantic Ocean, approximately 400 nautical miles (740 km) off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada, Titan, a submersible operated by OceanGate, an American tourism company, suffered a devastating implosion. The purpose of the dive was to explore the wreckage of the Titanic, with a crew of five individuals on board. Contact with Titan was lost after one hour and forty-five minutes into the dive, and it failed to resurface as planned, triggering immediate action by authorities. Following an extensive search, a debris field containing parts of the ill-fated Titan has been discovered by a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV), located approximately 1,600 feet (about 500 meters) away from the bow of the Titanic. This discovery was based on declassified sonar data from the US Navy, which indicated an implosion in the area on the day of the incident. As a result, it was concluded that the pressure vessel of the submersible had imploded during its descent, leading to the instantaneous loss of all five crew members. Prior to the incident, concerns had been raised about the safety of the vessel. OceanGate executives made the decision not to seek certification for Titan, citing that excessive safety protocols hindered innovation. James Cameron's comments on the submersible incident Incidentally, Cameron has commented on the incident. During an interview with ABC News, the filmmaker said it is likely that the submersible, after losing all communication with the outside world during its deep-sea mission, was attempting to resurface. He also suggested that the five passengers aboard the vessel were probably aware of the problem before the catastrophic implosion occurred. "This OceanGate sub had sensors on the inside of the hull to give them a warning when it was starting to crack. And I think, if that's your idea of safety, then you're doing it wrong," he said. He further explained, "They probably had a warning that their hull was beginning to delaminate and develop cracks." Based on his knowledge within the community, Cameron added, "It's our belief that they had released their ascent weights and were attempting to surface, trying to manage an emergency situation." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.