MUMBAI: The most famous shipwreck in modern history the Titanic continues to fascinate people.
Now NGC has announced that it will air a special Return ToTitanic in the US in June.
Almost two decades after discovering the sunken wreck of the Titanic, National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Dr. Robert Ballard returns to lead another expedition.
The special will include the first live underwater broadcast from the Titanic. The problem now is that a destructive combination of natural forces and human intrusions is threatening to force the complete collapse of the Titanic wreck into the ocean floor.
The telecast on 7 June will originate from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) research ship Ronald H. Brown and include the first-ever live telecast from Titanic's watery grave, some 12,000 feet under the Atlantic Ocean.
The special will be hosted onboard by NGC veteran and ABC correspondent Jay Schadler. National Geographic and Dr. Ballard share a history with the Titanic. This began with its discovery in 1985 and the publication of Dr. Ballard's first-person account in the National Geographic magazine article How We Found the Titanic.
In 1986 the programme Secrets of the Titanic debuted on TBS. Later in November 2004 the book Return to Titanic will be published by Dr. Ballard with Michael Sweeney.
Dr. Ballard added, "Using high-definition cameras, we will take images of the ship and its surrounding debris field. We will compare them to the images we made in 1985 and 1986. This will allow our team of scientists, and the viewers at home, to contrast the ship's past and present and the see the level of change for ourselves." Since its discovery in 1985, more than 6,000 artifacts have been salvaged from Titanic.
Dr. Ballard has assembled a group of expedition partners aboard the research ship. They will spend 11 days at the site mapping the Titanic and conducting a scientific investigation of its deterioration.
The expedition will study Titanic using state-of-the-art submersible robots called Hercules, Argus and Little Hercules. Forensic experts and microbiologists will examine the ship's condition. Footage from the expedition will be shared with scientific communities and audiences through the use of satellite telecommunication systems, advanced Internet technology and digital imagery.
