Fénix capsules explained

The Fénix capsules were three metallic containers that were used for the rescue of 33 trapped miners after the 2010 Copiapó mining accident,[1] and are an enhanced version of the Dahlbusch Bomb. The capsules were constructed by Astilleros y Maestranzas de la Armada (ASMAR), (Shipyards and Arsenals of the Navy), who named it Fénix (Phoenix).

Description

The Fénix capsules were designed by the Chilean Navy, in collaboration with the United States space agency NASA. They have a diameter of 54cm (21inches), and have eight wheels located on the top and the bottom, with a damping system for mobility in the pipeline. The Fénix capsules have a harness to hold the occupant, an oxygen supply, and a microphone with speakers, which were used to connect the miners with the rescuers at the surface during the rescue.

Officially, three prototypes of the capsule were created. The Fénix 1 had a larger diameter than the other two capsules and was used in tests in the shaft created by the Schramm Inc. T-130 drill, where it descended to a depth of 610m (2,000feet).[2] Fénix 2 was operated with an Austrian pulley system and was used throughout the rescue of the miners. Fénix 3 was held in reserve and not used. The Commander-in-Chief of the Chilean Navy, Admiral Edmundo González Robles said that ASMAR had also constructed a fourth capsule, that was not taken to Copiapó, and that the Fénix capsules were going to be patented.[3]

Several major online news media organizations produced illustrations of the basic Fénix design.[4] [5]

Capsule after the rescue

After the rescue, possession of the Fenix 2 was the subject of a dispute between the Government of Chile, ASMAR and the Municipality of Copiapó.[6] The Government announced a tour of the capsule all over the country,[7] starting with its exhibition in the Plaza de la Constitución in Santiago, the capital of Chile.[8]

Fénix 1 was exhibited at Expo Shanghai 2010.[9] One of the capsules was displayed at the National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. for a special exhibition titled "Against All Odds: Rescue at the Chilean Mine", which began on August 5, 2011.[10]

Auction experts estimate that the Fénix 2 could be worth up to US$1 million. The senior valuer for auctioneers Dominic Winter in Gloucestershire, England said "The capsule is a 21st-century icon and symbolizes many things including the triumph of hope and the human spirit over adversity, teamwork and technology over nature and the myriad of uplifting stories of the 33 miners and their families. The capsule will be recognized by the whole world for decades to come and would be a major tourist attraction for any science or popular culture museum, which is its most logical home."[11] The Fénix 2 capsule went on display at the Atacama Regional Museum in Copiapó from August 3, 2011.[12] On February 11, 2012 the capsule was put on display at the Science Museum, London, to be displayed until May 13.[13]

A replica of the Fénix 2 was given to the city of Canberra by the government of Chile in 2011 and erected opposite the Australian National University's student offices.[14]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Fénix, la cápsula metálica en la que saldrán los mineros . https://web.archive.org/web/20121004045535/http://www.elmundo.es/america/2010/10/12/noticias/1286917669.html . 4 October 2012 . live . October 12, 2010 . . Spanish . October 27, 2010 . .
  2. News: Apuestan a iniciar el rescate a las 00:00 del miércoles . https://web.archive.org/web/20120324100142/http://www.lanacion.cl/apuestan-a-iniciar-rescate-a-las-00-00-horas-del-miercoles/noticias/2010-10-11/121519.html . 24 March 2012 . dead . . October 10, 2010 . October 27, 2010 .
  3. News: La Armada patentará cápsula Fénix que rescató a los 33 mineros . https://web.archive.org/web/20120927174948/http://www.emol.com/noticias/nacional/2010/10/19/442373/la-armada-patentara-capsula-fenix-que-rescato-a-los-33-mineros.html . 27 September 2012 . live . El Mercurio OnLine . October 19, 2010 . Spanish . October 27, 2010 .
  4. Web site: Fenix 2 Rescue Capsule, side view, opened. https://archive.today/20110628223204/http://abcnews.go.com/meta/search/imageDetail?format=plain&source=http%3A%2F%2Fabcnews.go.com%2Fimages%2FInternational%2F41eb84ca39dc4a2d824e02173f1ac0f9. dead. 28 June 2011. ABC News. Online Graphic. 14 September 2010. 14 September 2010.
  5. Web site: Fenix 2 Rescue Capsule, top view, opened. https://archive.today/20110628223213/http://abcnews.go.com/meta/search/imageDetail?format=plain&source=http%3A%2F%2Fabcnews.go.com%2Fimages%2FBusiness%2F3b7bc91554324d38aec4208ee4964c47. dead. 28 June 2011. ABC News. Online Graphic. 14 September 2010. 14 September 2010.
  6. News: Disputa por la Fénix 2. https://web.archive.org/web/20110708172457/http://www.cnnchile.com/nacional/2010/10/16/disputa-por-la-fenix-2/. 8 July 2011. dead. CNN Chile. October 16, 2010. October 27, 2010.
  7. News: https://web.archive.org/web/20120324103206/http://www.cooperativa.cl/gobierno-anuncio-gira-de-la-fenix-2-por-zona-afectada-por-el-terremoto/prontus_nots/2010-10-21/140239.html . 24 March 2012 . live . Gobierno anunció gira de la "Fénix 2" por zona afectada por el terremoto . . October 21, 2010 . October 27, 2010 .
  8. News: Instalan cápsula Fénix 2 frente a La Moneda para ser exhibida desde hoy . https://web.archive.org/web/20120303085423/http://latercera.com/noticia/nacional/2010/10/680-300633-9-instalan-capsula-fenix-2-frente-a-la-moneda-para-ser-exhibida-desde-hoy.shtml . 3 March 2012 . live . . October 19, 2010 . October 27, 2010 .
  9. News: La Fénix 1 ya se exhibe en la Expo Shanghai . https://web.archive.org/web/20120324100153/http://www.lanacion.cl/la-fenix-1-ya-se-exhibe-en-la-expo-shanghai/noticias/2010-10-23/102755.html . 24 March 2012 . dead . . October 23, 2010 . October 27, 2010 .
  10. Web site: Embassy of the United States Santiago, Chile - Exhibition Against All Odds: Rescue at the Chilean Mine (August 2011) . https://web.archive.org/web/20130218180717/http://chile.usembassy.gov/2011press0802-33exhibition.html . 18 February 2013 . dead . Chile.usembassy.gov . 2010-08-05 . 2011-08-06 .
  11. News: Chile miners: rescue capsule could be worth $1million . . Laura . Roberts . 15 October 2010 . 15 October 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130217033815/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/chile/8066512/Chile-miners-rescue-capsule-could-be-worth-1million.html . 17 February 2013 . live .
  12. Web site: https://web.archive.org/web/20120319040232/http://www.soychile.cl/Copiapo/Sociedad/2011/08/03/30302/Con-emocion-instalaron-la-capsula-Fenix-II-en-el-Museo-Regional-de-Atacama.aspx . 19 March 2012 . live . Con emoción instalaron la cápsula Fénix II en el Museo Regional de Atacama . Paul-Edouard Martin . . August 3, 2011 . August 13, 2011 . Spanish .
  13. News: Chile mine rescue capsule at London Science Museum . February 11, 2012 . February 13, 2012 . BBC World . https://archive.today/20120729145022/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-16993131 . 29 July 2012 . live .
  14. Web site: Fenix 2. ACT Public Art Database. ACT Government. 24 March 2015.

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