[jonhendry18]

His efforts turned out to be a bit of a damp squib but that's because the rescue effort was launched earlier than expected due to coming heavy rains.

There was talk about having the kids wait in there until as late as November, or maybe a long process of drilling an escape hole.

If the rescue had begun a week or two later, perhaps Musk's gadget would have been used. As it is, the divers already had a plan that, by the time Musk arrived, appeared to be working well.

But yeah, he tweets a lot about his projects, and no doubt has some thought toward self-promotion.

He appears to follow through, so I can't be too cynical about his apparent opportunism.

[mxfh]

Talking about drilling escape holes. The Dahlbusch rescue device was improvised in 5 days, with no patents claimed whatsover. Wonder if Musk will do the same with his contraption.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dahlbusch_Bomb

[gaius]

perhaps Musk's gadget would have been used

The cave was too narrow in sections for a diver to pass through still wearing his cylinders. How exactly was a sub supposed to get in?

[jonhendry18]

I would guess the "sub" was not much wider than the kids. While an adult or kid couldn't get through while wearing a cylinder, a cylinder a little bigger than a kid (or smaller than the torso of a Navy SEAL) might get through.

The problem may have been more that it would be too long to navigate some bends in the caves.

It also occurs to me that, being made of aluminum, the tube would act like a giant heatsink in the cold water, chilling whoever was inside.

But with more time before the rescue, and by consulting with divers familiar with the caves, the problems might have been worked out.

So, yeah, taking the tube to Thailand was kind of pointless, but I guess at least shows that it wasn't just empty tweeting. There was an effort.

[jakhead]

The squeeze is 70 cm. The "sub" was designed to fit.

[jacobush]

He himself said something akin to "I may be a narcissist, but at least a useful one".

[JustSomeNobody]

Is the second half of this even true? If you create something that is impractical for the mission and won't be used have you been useful at all? I think not.

[jonhendry18]

With a little more time before the rescue and consultation with divers familiar with the caves, they might have come up with something more effective.

But he did also send 700 or so PowerWall batteries to Puerto Rico for hospitals and whatnot.

[jacobush]

If he is, I am sure he thinks in larger terms - helping humanity out more than dragging it down.

[67_45]

I would need a spource. What's next dude? The Gates foundation is all a PR stunt?