The dramatic rescue of 33 Chilean miners earlier this month demanded good working conditions, swift teamwork and technological ingenuity. It also brought to light the heroic side of engineering, which we highlight here.

High-tech tools and a meticulous team including Chilean and NASA engineering consultants helped drive the rescue of 33 miners who spent 69 days trapped under the dense, volcanic surface of the San Jose copper-gold mine.

The outcome of the mine collapse on August 5 likely would have been tragic without a few elements. There were drills and machinery that bored holes for tubes to transport water, rations and vaccinations to the men, and the Fenix 2 (aka “Phoenix”) capsule that lifted each miner from the depths of the mine outlet measuring over 2,000 ft. deep.

Even clothing engineered for space travel played a role during the rescue: the men received specialized Japanese undergarments typically worn by astronauts to provide comfort and ward off odors, Space.com explains.

Another contributing factor to success was the careful engineering strategy employed by the topography and rescue crew at the scene of the mine, where International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards were employed during the capsule lift.

Here, we take a closer look at some of the notable technology and engineering behind the rescue.

Tools and the Search
Advanced drill bits supplied by Center Rock, Inc. and T-130 drill machines issued by Schramm Inc. (both Pennsylvania-based companies) were among the first tools implemented in the rescue mission, which was originally expected to last until December.

This machinery helped facilitate access to the miners, who survived the first 17 days with only limited food and supplies for survival. The Chilean government’s fast response and request for an effective rescue drill also helped accelerate the mission. Three efforts to bore through the abrasive volcanic rock went forward simultaneously — known as Plans A, B and C — using various manufacturers’ drills, according to the New York Times.

Center Rock’s website describes Plan B, which broke through to the miners first, as a “pneumatic-based drilling system that bored the rescue shaft hole [using] four hammers instead of just one.”

The rescue team members, including contractor Jeff Hart, who has drilling experience in Afghanistan, had to use a precise drilling technique because even a slight error could contribute to a cave-in. Hart and other drillers probing for a bore hole were guided by topographer Macarena Valdes, who described the rescue mission as “75 percent engineering and 25 percent a miracle,” according to the Wall Street Journal.

Other experts specifically credit industry advances for the success. “The mining industry is increasingly advanced and interconnected,” Professor Andrzej Wala of the mining engineering department of the University of Kentucky told the Christian Science Monitor. Outfitting the drill with a bit from a different company was an example of such interlinked technology, according to Wala.

Communication with the Recovery Team
Upon locating the miners via a pilot hole, drillers were able to widen the cavity to supply food and necessities using PVC tubing that was lowered through a shaft. The PVC was later swapped with metal tubing and two additional boreholes were drilled, reducing the delivery time of supplies to just 20 minutes.

The device, also called la paloma (“the dove”), was attached to cables providing an open line of communication and a means of transporting everything from food, medication, biometric belts for heart monitoring, video cameras, cell phones for watching movies, bacteria-killing socks and even love letters — all of which were supplied through the 5.5-foot-long devices, which were 4.3 inches in diameter. To communicate with the outside world and the rescue team, the men set up a fiber-optic cable for video conferencing updates.

“…Rescuers began developing their own technological arsenal, combining modified mining gear with equipment commonly used by astronauts and submariners,” the Journal explains.

The Rescue
The final and perhaps most impressive device, given its compact size, was the rescue capsule known as “The Phoenix.” Now a sort of tech celebrity, experts estimate the tool used for this particular mission to be worth a fortune.

The capsule, weighing 924 pounds, with an interior height of 6 feet 4 inches and a diameter of just 21 inches, was sent 2,000 feet underground. A team of NASA consultants and Chilean navy engineers helped construct the device.

“NASA’s work in spacecraft design provided expertise with respect to medical requirements and design requirements,” the U.S. space agency says.

The Phoenix was hoisted by a pulley attached to a crane. Inside, oxygen tanks and health-monitoring equipment were added to the capsule to ensure the miners were safe during the half-mile trip to the surface. During the journey, the miners were able to communicate with the rescue crew via a two-way radio and a camera.

While advanced tools and technologies are widely credited for the safe retrieval of the 33 men, some recognition belongs to global mining safety precautions. An ISO report states that ISO 18738:2003, Lift (elevators) – Measurement of Lift Ride Quality was also implemented during the rescue process to calculate the optimal rate of acceleration and to avoid worker discomfort.

Resources

Chilean Miners Got Space Underwear from Japan
Space.com, Oct. 13, 2010

ISO Standard Plays Role in Rescue of Trapped Chilean Miners
International Organization for Standardization, Oct. 14, 2010

Plan B Turns Out to Be Fastest Path for Rescue
by Henry Fountain
The New York Times, Oct. 12, 2010

Chile’s Rescue Formula: ’75% Science, 25% Miracle’
by Matt Moffett, Anthony Esposito and Carolina Pica
The Wall Street Journal, Oct. 14, 2010

Chile Mine Rescue Spurred Unprecedented Global Coordination
by Stephen Kurczy
The Christian Science Monitor, Oct. 14, 2010

Chile Miners: Rescue Capsule Could be Worth $1 Million
by Laura Roberts
The Telegraph, Oct. 15, 2010

NASA Provides Assistance to Trapped Chilean Miners
NASA.gov, Oct. 13, 2010

NASA Engineer Helps Chilean Miners
NASA.gov, Oct. 13, 2010

Chile Mine Rescue Shows How Far Mine Safety has Come
by Steven Bodzin and Sara Miller Llana
The Christian Science Monitor, Oct. 13, 2010

Chile Miners Rescue: Stress and Anxiety Present New Ordeal for Men
by Ian Sample
Guarian, Oct. 13, 2010

Q&A – How Did Chile’s Trapped Miners Survive?
Reuters, Oct. 13, 2010

As Rescue Drill Nears, Miners in Chile Still Have Long Way to Go
by Patrick Oppmann
CNN, Oct. 5, 2010