Rescue Capsule is an Engineering Marvel

I've been watching the rescue efforts in Chile like everyone else in amazement. I'm amazed the mine workers were able to survive this long, amazed by the pictures of the rescue, and amazed by the capsule that is bringing the stranded workers to safety.

The Phoenix I Capsule was designed through a joint effort by NASA engineers and the Chilean navy, rescue workers are currently bringing 33 miners to the surface -- 69 days after the men were trapped in a dark, humid, copper-gold mine.

Named after the mythic bird that rose from its ashes, the Phoenix capsule is designed to ferry the men one at a time up a narrow shaft lined with steel pipe. Chilean mining minister Laurence Golborne said the capsule weighs 924 pounds and its interior height is 6 feet, 4 inches.

The capsule is lowered via a winch 2,000 feet into the mine, just 40 feet short of the shaft bottom that has been the miners' refuge since the August 5 collapse. The men will each take an individual, twisting 20-minute ride back to the surface. It is taking about an hour for the rescue capsule to make a round trip.

The rescue capsule, painted in the red, white and blue colors of the Chilean flag, will be equipped with an oxygen supply, communications gear, retractable wheels to help it travel up and down the rescue shaft and an escape hatch in case anything goes wrong. The exterior wheels will help it slide down the borehole as it is lowered by a massive crane mounted on a nearby hillside.  The shaft has been reinforced numerous times so nothing happens to the capsule.

So far it is working perfectly.