Elon Musk has an Idea for Saving Boys Stranded in a Thailand Cave

DooKey

DooKey

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Elon Musk thinks some of his SpaceX and Boring Company engineers might be able to help the Thai government rescue the boys that have been stuck in a flooded cave for the last two weeks. Since the Boring Company is all about boring holes underground it makes sense to send them and their ground penetrating radar to Thailand to find a possible spot to begin tunneling to the trapped youths. All I can say is I hope his company can provide significant help in the rescue efforts. Let's keep our fingers crossed.

But this discovery didn't mean the boys were out of danger. Continued rains could flood the part of the cave where they're stranded. And even if that doesn't happen, it could be months before the water drops enough for the boys to walk out. In their current situation, keeping the boys supplied with food and medical care is hazardous—one Thai navy diver has died ferrying oxygen tanks into the cave.
 
This idea was already discussed by the government itself. That tunnel is no bueno
 
Haven't really read up on this but don't we have some kind of smaller sub that could work?
 
if they can find a weak spot to at least get a opening big enough to drop food/water ect. without having risk divers going through the flooded tunnel that's at least a start.
 
Ultima99 said:
Haven't really read up on this but don't we have some kind of smaller sub that could work?
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The people are barely able to squeeze through some areas underwater. Divers have to remove their tanks and push them through first before they can fit, for example. Also from what I've heard it's a 3+ hour trip for the divers just to reach the kids plus another 3+ hour trip for the drivers to head back. And this water isn't some pristine super clear and clean cave water that's been filtered through rock for eons. This is dirty ass flood water that has a current that the divers have to fight as well. One diver has already died navigating this mess.

These kids and their coach are in a lot of trouble.

sirmonkey1985 said:
if they can find a weak spot to at least get a opening big enough to drop food/water ect. without having risk divers going through the flooded tunnel that's at least a start.
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It's a natural cave that isn't mapped out very well. The Chilean miners at least were trapped in a man made mine that was accurately mapped.
 
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Burticus said:
Musk had a good ideal, to insert in a long flexible tubing and inflate it like a bouncy house... then they could just crawl/walk out.
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Five kilometers long through twisty, narrow passages with lots of sharp outcroppings? Good luck with that. The boring idea is a better one, although there's always the risk you will collapse the cave they are currently in and kill them all.
 
I thought they were trying to pump the water out or is that only stopping it from rising in the cave?
 
dangerouseddy said:
I thought they were trying to pump the water out or is that only stopping it from rising in the cave?
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They have been pumping water out, but if the rains kick into high gear I don't think they will be able to keep up.
 
KamelRed said:
The people are barely able to squeeze through some areas underwater. Divers have to remove their tanks and push them through first before they can fit, for example. Also from what I've heard it's a 3+ hour trip for the divers just to reach the kids plus another 3+ hour trip for the drivers to head back. And this water isn't some pristine super clear and clean cave water that's been filtered through rock for eons. This is dirty ass flood water that has a current that the divers have to fight as well. One diver has already died navigating this mess.

These kids and their coach are in a lot of trouble.



It's a natural cave that isn't mapped out very well. The Chilean miners at least were trapped in a man made mine that was accurately mapped.
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They should be in trouble. There was a clear warning sign at the entrance about flooding. Now a rescuer has dead because of it.
 
I'm sorry Elon, you're simply not needed. Somebody call Sting!

Sting.gif
 
Chaos Machine said:
I


Jeez really? Your parents forget to teach you compassion?
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On one side I agree completely. Seems to be lacking with a lot of people these days, and I see a lot of really surprising posts around here on occasion.

On the other side, once they're safely extricated, there should be some repercussions. They put the rescue personnel in peril, and search and rescue efforts are dangerous and expensive to multiple people. I don't wish the people inside any harm whatsoever though. I hope they get out safely, but there should be some consequences due to the others they endangered.

Side note: Posted signs aren't always black and white. Some are explicitly stating, stay out. Some warn of the dangers past the sign. Some are weak cautions. The very people wishing for "trouble" have probably ignored their fair share of signs. Most of us have.
 
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Meeho said:
All those professionals over there were so lost without Musk's input. But, hey, gotta score some PR points on a tragedy.
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Even professionals need help sometimes from outside thinking. It also isn't like Musk's engineers are amateurs at underground tunnels... I think any kind of brainstorming and caution experimentation is better than nothing. Even a failed rescue attempt could provide valuable information for future rescues.

KamelRed said:
Thailand has their own Navy SEALs. Pretty sure the deceased was local, not US.
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Spidey329 said:
Former Thai Navy SEAL. Oddly, I guess they use the same name? Naturally, news reports ran with "former Navy SEAL" in the headline for clicks. Apparently it's the "Thai Royal Navy Seals."

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news...y-seal-who-died-during-cave-rescue/762526002/
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Technically they are the Underwater Demolition Assault Unit of the Thai Royal Navy. "Seals", not SEALs is an unofficial term for them. The Thai Seals term is not an acronym like the US Navy SEALs.
 
But how did they get trapped in the first place? They walked 5 km in bone dry cave and suddenly the water appeared behind them or what?
 
M76 said:
But how did they get trapped in the first place? They walked 5 km in bone dry cave and suddenly the water appeared behind them or what?
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Pretty much. Started raining while they were inside heavily and before they could leave their exit was blocked up already.
 
M76 said:
But how did they get trapped in the first place? They walked 5 km in bone dry cave and suddenly the water appeared behind them or what?
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It is the start of monsoon season over there, flooding can happen quickly.
 
The dead diver was delivering oxygen. They are slowly running out of air.

The weather is ok now I heard but a lot of rain expected by the weekend.

I have been a couple of times in Thailand during the DRY season. I got caught in such rain you could barely see a few meter in front of you. I also come from a country where it often rains but I tell you, SEA is on a whole new level.
And it's currently rain season in Thailand which is supposed to last until December, so yeah, they are in deep shit.
 
captainyarr said:
The team is not saved, one rescuer is dead, and there are threats identified that could yet kill them all. But yeah, let's crap on a genius offering to help.
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If only they had asked for the genius' help. No one would have died and the kids would already be with their loved ones. There are no limits to what that glorious individual can do. A god amongst men.
 
The cave is also under a mountainous area so you have the added rainfall that's washing down the mountain entering the caves. That just amplifies the crazy amount of rain from their monsoon season.
 
Shit i hope they can run some lines of air and milk or something more permanent than air tanks. Horrible.
 
Meeho said:
If only they had asked for the genius' help. No one would have died and the kids would already be with their loved ones. There are no limits to what that glorious individual can do. A god amongst men.
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Is there a reason you are against him bringing his companies technical expertise and equipment in on this?

Maybe his motives are not 100% pure, (free good press is free good press), but he has never came off the type that will endanger these people just to make the headlines. The guy has zero issue making headlines as is, and his people do have the sort of expertise and equipment that could possibly help in this situation.
 
Gorankar said:
Is there a reason you are against him bringing his companies technical expertise and equipment in on this?

Maybe his motives are not 100% pure, (free good press is free good press), but he has never came off the type that will endanger these people just to make the headlines. The guy has zero issue making headlines as is, and his people do have the sort of expertise and equipment that could possibly help in this situation.
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Because it's bullshit posturing on a possible tragedy. It isn't helping anyone but himself.
 
sirmonkey1985 said:
if they can find a weak spot to at least get a opening big enough to drop food/water ect. without having risk divers going through the flooded tunnel that's at least a start.
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Them kids is tiny, if you can make a hole big enough for food, you can probably make one big enough for one of them.
 
Meeho said:
Because it's bullshit posturing on a possible tragedy. It isn't helping anyone but himself.
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Wow someone is angry that someone has more money and resources to try and help out. REmember the bullshit posturing in Puerto Rico? or on some of the Islands in Guam? Guess what... that bullshit posturing is helping. Jackhole. It's not bullshit posturing if the guy has a track record of actually helping.
 
Meeho said:
Because it's bullshit posturing on a possible tragedy. It isn't helping anyone but himself.
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Posturing? He is sending a selected team of engineers from the Boring company, SpaceX and Tesla, sounds like actual action to me. Maybe they don't figure anything out, maybe his only motive is selfish, but who gives a shit if it actually helps, hes offering free technical help to a serious problem with a shrinking time table, the more ideas and brain power the better.
 
Parja said:
Is it though? You know Musk is going to have the absolute bleeding edge technology when it comes to tunneling. I'm guessing the government of Thailand is just a wee bit behind in that regard.
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Why do you think Elon Musk has bleeding edge tunneling technology when all they’ve managed to dig so far is a downright simple short hole? Also the Hyperloop is bullshit so they don’t even have that for expertise...
 
Grimlaking said:
Wow someone is angry that someone has more money and resources to try and help out. REmember the bullshit posturing in Puerto Rico? or on some of the Islands in Guam? Guess what... that bullshit posturing is helping. Jackhole. It's not bullshit posturing if the guy has a track record of actually helping.
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I didn't know Musk's girlfriends posted here. I'm sure a couple of batteries will save the day there. Lack of electricity is the only thing keeping those boys from being rescued. Did you like his twitter post yet? Every little bit helps in these dire situations.
 
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