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submersibles
I can't help but remember the Apollo 1 fire when thinking about these poor men on the submarine. If they get to the surface but don't get found they're still stuck because they can't open the door because its bolted shut on the outside.
Apollo 1, the hatch opened inwards and played a part in the lack of ability for crew egress when the capsule caught fire. Trapping them inside in the fire rather than allowing their escape.
My guess is that the hatch opens outwards on the sub but the bolts prevent opening, I wonder how other deep sea subs operate in this regard.
submersibles
@magicaltrout The hatch (and windows) on Alvin taper so they seat more tightly the deeper you go. My photo of the hatch from inside is blurry (I was pretty damned excited!!), but it looks like there are some fasteners on the inside. Bolts on the outside sound like a Very Bad Idea. The passenger sphere is designed to be detachable from the rest of the sub and positively buoyant so the only way it wouldn’t be able to get to the surface is if it was wedged underneath something.
A Washington Post article suggested flammability concerns, which is terrifying and speaks to your Apollo 1 parallel…