Michael,
I think you know more about this than me. I'm not aware of any explosive bolts.
I do know, however, that the MIRs have the ability to shed components if necessary to increase bouyancy. There is something like 300 kilos of weights attached to the bottom that can be dropped, as well as propellor shrouds and the like. The last thing to go would be the batteries. Since these cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to replace, the Russians are reluctant to let go of them. However, I don't think it's possible to separate the sphere from the rest of the sub.
Personally, I would not relish the idea of spinning like I was inside a washing machine for the two hours it would take to surface from the depth of the Titanic.
My longest ascent in the MIR was five hours and forty-five minutes, but this was from 16,000 feet. We drained the batteries on the bottom, so it was nearly impossible to pump out the ballast tanks. I went to sleep for an hour after we left the bottom, and we were still 15,000 feet deep when I woke up. It took us three hours just to get us up to the depth of the TITANIC.
I think you know more about this than me. I'm not aware of any explosive bolts.
I do know, however, that the MIRs have the ability to shed components if necessary to increase bouyancy. There is something like 300 kilos of weights attached to the bottom that can be dropped, as well as propellor shrouds and the like. The last thing to go would be the batteries. Since these cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to replace, the Russians are reluctant to let go of them. However, I don't think it's possible to separate the sphere from the rest of the sub.
Personally, I would not relish the idea of spinning like I was inside a washing machine for the two hours it would take to surface from the depth of the Titanic.
My longest ascent in the MIR was five hours and forty-five minutes, but this was from 16,000 feet. We drained the batteries on the bottom, so it was nearly impossible to pump out the ballast tanks. I went to sleep for an hour after we left the bottom, and we were still 15,000 feet deep when I woke up. It took us three hours just to get us up to the depth of the TITANIC.