Some big money behind the efforts of the teams.
Eric Schmidt of Google (damn 1%'er! /s), Richard Branson of Virgin fame, film maker James Cameron and a group that wants to sell seats to tourist/adventurers @ 250K a seat.
How did they do it the first time? It says it was conquered 50 years ago. Is it really harder to do now, or was that a one-way trip for someone?
We probably could say the same thing about going to the moon.
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea.....
While I’m a big fan of manned space missions, I swing the other way on deep sea missions. The risk is too high when its so easily alleviated by using ROVs to do the same job. If someone wants to do it, I’m fine with it if it doesn’t cost me anything.
Geologists think that that portion of the Pacific plate is older and thus heavier than in other areas (more water, etc). The depth is greater because of weight and less friction between the plates. We will be able to see what is living at such depth and what the environment is like. Subduction is accompanied by volcanism. Lots to learn.
One of my favorite memories of the Navy was holding swim call over the Challenger Deep. No land in sight and all that water beneath me - a truly incredible feeling.
“To the BOTTOM OF THE OCEAN!”
(same as it ever was.)