The exploration community continues to be reeling from the announcement that, despite a days-long international search, the submersible Titan broke apart near the wreckage of the famed Titanic.
All five people aboard the Titan — businessman and explorer Hamish Harding; explorer and diver Paul-Henry Nargolet; businessman Shahzada Dawood; Dawood’s 19-year-old son Suleman; and Stockton Rush, founder and CEO of OceanGate, the corporate that operated the submersible — are presumed dead.
Titan’s situation — a closed capsule in a hostile environment where few humans enterprise — echoes the hazards of space exploration. Perhaps unsurprisingly, many figures within the space community offered their support during the search.
Richard Garriott, space traveler, creator of the Ultima video game series and president of the Explorers Club, which counted Harding and Nargolet as members, tweeted on behalf of the Club, “Our hearts are with family and friends of [the crew] as we await hopefully excellent news.”
Terry Virts, a former astronaut who was a friend of Harding’s, told Fox News that Harding and the opposite Titan passengers understood the danger they took by diving deep on the submersible. “I’m sure [Harding] is down there, planning his next explorer’s missions after he gets rescued,” Virts said.
Alas, it was to not be. On Thursday (June 22), a rescue team encountered a broken tail cone, indicating that the Titan had broken apart on its initial descent.
After that find, Garriott tweeted one other statement on behalf of the Explorers Club. “We’re heartbroken for the families, friends and colleagues of those that were lost,” he said. “Their memories might be a blessing and can proceed to encourage us within the name of science and exploration.”
Former astronaut Scott Parazynski, who flew on five space shuttle missions, tweeted: “Devastated by the lack of the #Titan crew — wonderful explorers, Dads, Sons, Husbands and Friends.” (Parazynski dived aboard the Titan up to now, and in 2022 he joined the board of directors of OceanGate, the corporate that operated the submersible.)
Devastated by the lack of the #Titan crew – wonderful explorers, Dads, Sons, Husbands and Friends – all of whom were champions of ocean conservation and discovery. My deepest condolences to their families and the @Oceangate team, and gratitude to the numerous rescuers on the scene.June 22, 2023
The SETI Institute, which counted Shahzada Dawood as a trustee, also issued an announcement of regret, thanking Dawood for his support over time.
“Shahzada was passionately curious and an enthusiastic supporter of the SETI Institute and our mission, being directly involved in philanthropic programs in education, research and public outreach,” SETI Institute officials wrote. “He might be deeply missed by all who knew him, especially his fellow trustees and the leadership of the SETI Institute.”