mapping the deep 16 For Victor, this may be the last time he’ll ever pilot the Limiting Factor to the bottom of Challenger Deep, which makes the moment especially poignant. From the start, he’s largely financed Caladan and its operations out of his own pocket, with the occasional infusion from “trench tourists” who are willing to pay a hefty fee to visit the deepest point on Earth. Now, though, he has found a buyer for the whole Hadal Exploration System—including the sub, the ship, and all the trimmings. Within a few months, video game magnate Gabe Newell and his organization Inkfish Expeditions will take over the operation, leaving Victor a bit nostalgic but eager for his next adventure. For Dawn, the work continues—the essential work of mapping the deep and of explaining to audiences all over the world why it’s so important to do so. Not just important, Dawn argues, but crucial to the future of our planet, about 70 percent of which lies under ocean waters. As Dawn climbed out of the sub that day in 2022 and stood on the deck of the Pressure Drop, with TV cameras capturing her every move, scientists and nonscientists alike were celebrating her achievement. She even received a call from senior Dawn (left) and Victor return triumphantly from the deepest point in the world.
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