The world has been patiently watching the unfolding saga of the Chilean miners trapped in a mine. Chilean miners nevertheless alive. Nobody knew how or when they would be rescued though. Officials and advisers from NASA have been dispatched to the site to offer any advice they can to the miners and rescue crews. It might take months to get them. There is a rescue shaft getting drilled though it is taking a while.
Chile sees NASA
The Chilean mine disaster now has National Aeronautics and Space Administration officials. The miners are trapped 2,200 feet underground. NASA engineers and scientists are responsible for getting supplies to the miners. The Washington Post explains that you will find 33 men in the chamber that has three four inch wide tubes going down to them. Oxygen goes down one tube, when the other two send supplies and video conference so families can see each other. Trying to get everything down a four inch tube is the real problem.
Advice given with encouragement
The former National Aeronautics and Space Administration astronaut, Jerry Linenger, got to talk to the Washington Post. There was a fire in 1997 on the Mir space station that caused Linenger to be the only American Astronaut trapped. There were also two other astronauts there with him. Linenger’s advice to the men was that they need to stay busy, but not get their hopes up. If things do not go also as they hope, the miners might end up with despair and depression. He also advised that miners shouldn’t let one person become a leader as they need to be involved in teamwork.
Camp Hope is available
There is a camp called Camp Hope near the mine. This is for all of the rescue workers, family members and support staff. Meanwhile, the mining business is begging for forgiveness and near bankruptcy. The business isn’t paying the contained miners’ wages.
Further reading
Washington Post
washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/27/AR2010082704867.html?waporef=obinsite
Washington Post
washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2010/08/31/ST2010083106253.html?sid=ST2010083106253
