Overview

• Raju Ramesh and Commander (Retd) Jatinder Pal Singh reached 4,025 m and 5,002 m depths aboard France’s Nautile off Portugal during 4–6 August dives.
• Each mission lasted around nine to ten hours, including a 2.5-hour descent, nearly four hours at depth conducting manipulator operations and acoustic communication tests.
• Authorities say the hands-on experience will guide final harbour wet tests, titanium sphere integration and deep-sea trials under the Samudrayaan Deep Ocean Mission.
• India’s Matsya-6000 programme, designed to carry three aquanauts to 6,000 m, marked a human-rated titanium sphere weld milestone in late July.
• The Deep Ocean Mission approved in 2021 targets scientific research, resource assessment and blue-economy development within India’s Exclusive Economic Zone.