All your questions about the missing Titanic sub, answered

It's been almost 4 days since the OceanGate Titan submersible went missing off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada, carrying five passengers including OceanGate's CEO Stockton Rush himself. As oxygen on the submersible runs out, there are questions galore. Here are answers to all the FAQs regarding the submersible.

What is the OceanGate Titan Submersible?

Titan is an experimental carbon fibre and titanium submersible with arguably a 4,000-metre-depth range that allows access to over half of the world's oceans. Titan, according to the OceanGate website, 'is a pioneer in a new era of crewed submersible research as the world's only sub capable of transporting five crewmembers to these depths'.

Where and when did the Titan submersible disappear?

Although the location of the disappearance is unknown, the Titan went missing somewhere near the Titanic wreck site, within 1 hour 45 minutes of the dive after it lost communication with its mothership, Polar Prince at 1200 GMT on Sunday, June 18.

Is the Titan really steered by a Logitech gaming controller?

Yes, according to OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, the sub is manoeuvred using a $30 Logitech gaming controller, where the keys would act as they are named: up for forward, back key for backwards, and so on.

Who is onboard the Titanic submersible?

The sub had five individuals including Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and his son, Sulaiman, as well as British billionaire businessman and explorer Hamish Harding, French explorer Paul-Henry Nargeolet, and OceanGate's CEO Stockton Rush himself.

ALSO READ: Hamish Harding, onboard missing Titanic sub, had a big role in bringing cheetahs to India

How much does it cost for a trip on the OceanGate Titan?

This particular dive to explore the remains of the Titanic reportedly cost $250,000 or Rs 2.05 crore per person.

Who owns the Titan Submersible?

Led by the founder and CEO, Stockton Rush, the Titan submersible is privately owned by OceanGate, an American company.

What is the status of search operations for the Titan submersible?

After the communication between the two was lost, the mothership Polar Prince informed the US Coast Guard. Joint forces of the USA and Canada are on the lookout for the missing sub since Sunday.

Does OceanGate have other submersibles?

Yes, apart from the Titan, the OceanGate fleet currently has two other submersibles: Antipodes, and Cyclops 1. All three are different in terms of function and objectives. Apart from these three, the fleet also includes a patented flat launch and recovery platform.

How many passengers can travel on the Titan?

All three OceanGate subs, including the Titan, can accommodate a maximum of five people in the cramped and narrow (670 cm x 280 cm x 250 cm) pod.

How does the Titan submersible work?

The submersible is a minivan-sized pod launched from a platform vessel. After the passengers get in, the sub is bolted shut from the outside with 17 screws. It can be opened only by a crew on the outside. A red switch is to be pressed to start it. The red switch turns green, meaning the sub is on. Surprisingly, there is just a single switch inside the sub. It is powered by four electric thrusters which look like a desktop (CPU) fan.

How fast can the Titan travel?

Powered by the four thrusters, it can travel up to 4 kmph underwater.

How deep can the Titan dive?

According to OceanGate, the Titan can dive up to 4,000 metres, allowing access to over half of the world's oceans. But, David Lochridge, a company employee who flagged that the sub can't dive deeper than 1300 metres, was fired from OceanGate following a lawsuit in the US. Later, he and OceanGate settled the suit outside of court.

How did the Titan lose its connection with the mothership Polar Prince?

The communication between the submersible and its mothership was enabled by Elon Musk's Starlink, as Internet doesn't work at such depths. A supposed malfunction in the connection or some other reason might have caused the disruption.

ALSO READ: Missing Titanic submersible that faced a lawsuit over safety is also a PR disaster for Elon Musk

Is there backup oxygen inside the Titan sub?

The sub was equipped with a backup of nearly 96 hours of oxygen in case of emergency. Theoretically, the oxygen on the submersible lasts till 12 noon GMT; or 5.30 pm IST today, June 22.

Were there any mechanisms to resurface on the Titan?

Yes, there were seven different resurfacing mechanisms on the Titan, none of which seemingly have worked.

Why are undersea rescues so difficult?

The Coast Guard's operations primarily become tough as it is hard to pinpoint the exact location of the disappearance in the vastness of the ocean. The unavailability of vessels to access such depths and the immense pressure at the great depths make operations challenging.

How is a submersible different from a submarine?

A submarine has sufficient power to leave and return to a port independently.

A submersible, on the other hand, is launched and recovered by a mother ship as it has relatively limited power reserves.

Both are different size-wise too. Also, submersibles, at present, are at a very rudimentary stage of development as compared to submarines, which have been in one use or the other since the 18th century.

Where and how deep is the Titanic shipwreck?

The location of the Titanic shipwreck is in the North Atlantic Ocean, specifically in the vicinity of the coordinates 41.726931° N latitude and 49.948915° W longitude. The wreckage is situated approximately 600 kilometres southeast of Newfoundland, Canada.

The shipwreck lies at a depth of approximately 12,500 feet (3,800 meters) below the surface of the North Atlantic Ocean.

Has the Titan made any previous voyages to the Titanic wreck site?

Yes, the OceanGate Titan made three expeditions with tourists in the past to the Titanic wreck site. The tourist dives were followed by multiple test dives attaining a similar depth as that of the Titanic.

Who is Chris Brown, who pulled out of the Titan submersible mission last minute?

Chris Brown, a friend of billionaire Hamish Harding, pulled out of the mission last minute citing safety concerns. He learned that the ballast for the submarine was made of old scaffolding poles and that the controls were fashioned after those used in video games. He eventually sent OceanGate an email, informing them that he was unable to continue with the trip. He also requested a refund.

His friend Hamish Harding continued with the expedition. Harding is currently one among the five people onboard the missing submersible.

Who is Abbi Jackson? How is she connected to the OceanGate Titan submersible?

Abbi Jackson is a crew member on the mothership Polar Prince who posted a TikTok selfie video showing the Titan's launch.

Why did OceanGate fire David Lochridge?

David Lochridge, a submersible pilot with OceanGate, said that he had flagged safety concerns over the depth the sub could dive to. He also highlighted flaws in previously tested models and visible flaws in the carbon end samples of the Titan submersible.

At the moment, it is estimated that the submersible has about an hour of oxygen left on it. Search operations are in full swing, with US and Canadian forces trying their best to locate the missing Titanic submersible.