Week 3 (6/4-6/10)

Saturday (6/4)

Today the R/V Thompson went back to shore to drop off a member of the scientific party. The trip back was approximately 14 hours, and as soon as the “drop off” was concluded, we were on our way back to the mission site.  

During this time, the JASON crew had extra time to work on miscellaneous tasks such as:

  • Rewiring the Brow pan/tilt Camera. It spontaneously will refuse to pan for one shift, but then be completely operational for the next. This camera is perched at the central top of JASON’s “face”.
  • We also replaced the connections from the motor-control pods to the thrusters. The previous dive ended when three thrusters had to be disabled due to grounding issues. JASON was able to still operate with two thrusters down, but when the third became problematic, the dive was aborted, and JASON was recovered.

Sunday – Thursday (6/5-6/9)

Each day JASON was launched and recovered within 20 hours. The launch and recovery procedure takes approximately 30 minutes to have JASON deck-to-water and vice versa. It is the ascent and decent of 3200 meters that usually takes around two hours. While the rise or dive is being initiated, the pilot and navigator stay in the motor-control van, while the engineering member is on Winch Watch.

This week’s dives have all been successful with no issues and all desired samples were obtained.

Thursday evening the weather was too severe for another launch, so it was postponed until

Friday(6/10) afternoon at 2pm.

This week was especially exciting not just because of the success of the dives, but I was able to pilot JASON for a portion of the dive on Tuesday (6/7). I was surprised how stable JASON was when maneuvering around the area. A big difference from the smaller observation ROVs that I have flown in the past. Though it was a shorter dive, it was one of the most exciting moments I have ever experienced!

What extra time I had this week was spent learning different hydraulic fittings. I was even quizzed on them later in the week.

We only have a few days left on this cruise, so the team will try and get in as many dives as possible before we head back to port. I am lucky enough to remain on the vessel and accompany the next cruise, which will go until July 2nd.

This week’s tip: Napping & Rain Gear

On a cruise such as this with the different shift times, you will most definitely want to become accustomed to napping. Some days that may be the only sleep you get. If recovery and launch times fall in between your shift, then a few naps are what you will get. But after a couple days of this reoccurring, your shift leader will work it out to where you can take a whole 6–7-hour sleep time.

Also, if you are to venture out on a project like this, make sure you bring rain gear. Even if it is not raining, it comes in handy! When recovering JASON, you complete post-launch checks which require you to climb up into the vehicle. And you WILL get soaked! I brought a pair of water-proof bibs, so those have been quite beneficial for this endeavor.