HOUGHTON — The Great Lakes Research Center at Michigan Technological University and members of the Great Lakes Smart Ships Coalition will gather to deploy an autonomous surface vessel in hopes of finding the wreckage of a 1968 plane crash.
According to an Aug. 6 news release, from 9-11:30 a.m. Sept. 9 the vehicle will begin conducting large-scale mapping and archaeological exploration in Lake Superior.
The crash occurred in late October of 1968, when a National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) plane carrying two pilots and a graduate student disappeared over Lake Superior, sparking a decades-long mystery.
On a routine mission to collect water radiation and temperature data, the plane vanished without a trace after its last contact with the Houghton County Memorial Airport in Michigan.
Despite extensive search efforts, only a few pieces of debris have washed ashore between 1969 and 2014, baffling investigators.
The plane vanished in a region known for mysterious disappearances of airplanes and ships named the “Great Lakes Triangle.” The NCAR case remains open today.
Using Ocean Infinity’s Armada 8, an 8-meter state-of-the-art autonomous surface vessel (ASV) outfitted with an ultra-high-resolution 3D bathymetric sonar system, crews will map and explore Lake Superior in search of the wreckage.
The project is the first of a series of planned tests showcasing the diverse applications of autonomous technology in the Great Lakes.
Beyond solving specific challenges and enhancing existing techniques, these tests will contribute to developing the next generation of maritime professionals and solidifying the Great Lakes St. Lawrence region’s status as a hub for freshwater marine autonomy research and development.
“By demonstrating the benefits of autonomy in large-scale lakebed surveying, the Coalition aims to foster broad stakeholder support for future missions and ignite an interest in high-tech exploration and preservation of the Great Lakes,” the release said.
Guests and media will watch a live stream from the Great Lakes Research Center facility at 100 Phoenix Drive in Houghton and hear remarks from Coalition members, MTU leaders and other dignitaries.
Details of the event are as follows:
- 9-10 a.m. - Open house, display of ASV technology
- 10-10:30 a.m. - News conference with remarks from:
- Dr. Tim Havens, Director, Great Lakes Research Center, Michigan Technological University
- Mr. David Naftzger, Executive Director, Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers
- 10:30-11 a.m. - Launch of autonomous ship and support vessels; MTU remarks and photos.
The Great Lakes Smart Ships Coalition unites more than 60 universities, state and federal agencies, private and nonprofit companies, and international organizations that share a common interest in advancing and applying autonomous technologies operated in marine environments.
The Coalition is working closely with Great Lakes maritime archaeologists as they seek to unearth historical and cultural artifacts. Aligned with the objectives of Lakebed 2030, organizers will share data with the public, allowing uses beyond mapping and archaeology.
For more information on the Great Lakes Coalition and its initiatives click here
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