Tech History Made on January 23, 1960

On this day in 1960, man set a new record by traveling 35,810 feet under the sea; about 7 miles. Navy Lt. Donald Walsh and Jacques Piccard took a four hour and 48 minute trip to the bottom of the Challenger Deep, the deepest part of the Mariana Trench. Piccard's father, a Swiss scientist, designed the deep-diving research vessel, the Trieste. The Trieste had tanks that could be filled with water to help it dive and also carried 9 tons of iron shot. The iron shot was released once the dive was completed so that the vessel could easily return to the surface. An outer plexiglass window cracked but no harm befell the occupants. They enjoyed a twenty minute stay at the bottom looking at see creatures and eating candy bars.