In recent hearings before a Coast Guard investigative panel, a NASA engineer revealed that the space agency had limited involvement in developing the carbon fiber hull of the OceanGate submersible, Titan, which tragically imploded during a dive to the Titanic wreckage in June 2023.
This testimony contradicts claims made by Stockton Rush, the CEO and co-founder of OceanGate, who had previously stated that NASA played a significant role in the design and testing of the hull.
Justin Jackson, a NASA materials engineer, told the Marine Board of Investigation (MBI) that although the agency had intended to contribute to the project, the COVID-19 pandemic prevented them from participating fully. Instead, NASA’s involvement was limited to consulting on a one-third scale mock-up of the submersible, not the actual Titan that was lost. Jackson also testified that NASA raised concerns about the use of its name by OceanGate, saying that the language used by the company came too close to implying an endorsement.
The MBI is investigating the cause of the Titan’s implosion, which claimed the lives of all five people on board, including Rush. The investigation is looking into safety issues with the sub’s carbon fiber pressure hull, which was untested at such extreme depths of 12,500 feet.
Adding to the scrutiny, Boeing also played a role in the early stages of the Titan’s development. Mark Negley, a materials and process engineer at Boeing, testified that the aerospace giant provided recommendations on the hull’s thickness and the orientation of the carbon fiber layers to ensure maximum strength. However, OceanGate reportedly chose not to follow these guidelines.
This lack of adherence to Boeing’s recommendations, along with NASA’s limited role, has raised concerns about the construction and testing of the submersible. The Coast Guard panel is particularly focused on whether the Titan underwent proper independent safety reviews, as required for vessels diving to such extreme depths. Testimony from Coast Guard Marine Inspector John Winters revealed that there were no discussions about the specific standards used to build the Titan.
Testimonies have revealed contrasting views of OceanGate’s mission and approach. Guillermo Sohnlein, OceanGate’s co-founder, emphasized the company’s mission to explore the deep ocean and expand human access to it. He defended the use of carbon fiber in the sub’s design, stating that Rush, OceanGate’s CEO, was the first to test the vessel himself.
However, former OceanGate operations director David Lochridge painted a different picture, testifying that the company’s focus was more on profits than on scientific exploration. He suggested that safety warnings were ignored, contributing to the fatal disaster.
As the Coast Guard’s investigation continues, the focus remains on determining how the submersible’s carbon fiber hull, which had shown signs of potential failure in previous dives, was approved for such an ambitious and dangerous mission. The findings of this inquiry, along with those from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), are expected to lead to recommendations that will be submitted to the Coast Guard’s commandant for further action.
The hearings are scheduled to conclude this week, with more witnesses expected to testify about OceanGate’s safety practices and the design decisions behind the Titan.
With input from FOX Business and the Associated Press.
