As efforts to rescue trapped miners in Chile could last up to four months, the Chilean government has approached NASA to seek advice about maintaining the 33 miners’ physical and mental health. Having extensive experience in training astronauts to live long stretches at a time in isolation, the rescuers hope the U.S. space agency can provide useful survival tips and assistance for the miners.
“We received a request from the Chilean government about advice related to our life science research,” a NASA spokesman told the SPACE.com website.
The miners became trapped around 700 meters (2,300 feet) underground on August 5 after a roof of the San Jose copper and gold mine collapsed. After 17 days, a reamer machine created a borehole deep enough that it reached the area where the men were located.
The miners were able to send a note to the surface, confirming that they are all still alive.
“We received a request from the Chilean government about advice related to our life science research,” a NASA spokesman told the SPACE.com website.
The miners became trapped around 700 meters (2,300 feet) underground on August 5 after a roof of the San Jose copper and gold mine collapsed. After 17 days, a reamer machine created a borehole deep enough that it reached the area where the men were located.
The miners were able to send a note to the surface, confirming that they are all still alive.
The rescuers then used the drilled hole to send down medicine, food, water, and oxygen. Part of the plan is to provide the miners with special lighting which will simulate day and night to help them with regular sleep.
Engineers brought in a large drill from another mine in Chile, which will be used to create a 66 cm wide shaft, through which they hope to be able to bring the miners out by using a pulley.
“I would put this at the tough end of things. It’s not mission impossible but it’s a difficult mission,” John Urosek from the US Mine Safety and Health Administration told the BBC.
In the first stage, the engineers will drill a pilot hole, and then ream it, which will probably require a new drilling component to be manufactured specifically for the task.
As the diameter will be quite narrow, the miners were informed that they will have to keep their waistline under 90 cm to get out. Experts are now working on ways to keep the miners in good physical and mental condition until they can be rescued.
Engineers brought in a large drill from another mine in Chile, which will be used to create a 66 cm wide shaft, through which they hope to be able to bring the miners out by using a pulley.
“I would put this at the tough end of things. It’s not mission impossible but it’s a difficult mission,” John Urosek from the US Mine Safety and Health Administration told the BBC.
In the first stage, the engineers will drill a pilot hole, and then ream it, which will probably require a new drilling component to be manufactured specifically for the task.
As the diameter will be quite narrow, the miners were informed that they will have to keep their waistline under 90 cm to get out. Experts are now working on ways to keep the miners in good physical and mental condition until they can be rescued.
