Source: LA Times
The ‘Okeanos Explorer’ underwater vehicle – a remotely controlled underwater robot – is well into the second month of a three-month expedition navigating 20,000 feet deep into the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The Okeanos, launched in early April, is owned by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Live streams of the Okeanos expedition have attracted thousands of viewers every day who tune in to discover deep-sea creatures and habitats alongside scientists (see footage of mythical-looking jellyfish, sharks and sea cucumbers that gracefully pulse through vast expanses of the oceans).
“A key part of the mission is to investigate the unexplored areas of the ocean,” expedition manager Kelley Elliott told the LA Times.
Scientists of the expedition have so far discovered new species that are only seen in those depths and are exploring newly ‘paved’ ocean floors to monitor species colonization.
*On the West Coast of the U.S. the best streaming hours for live footage of the Okeanos expedition are between 1:30 and 9:30 p.m., LA Times reported.
Read full story at: LA Times