Niku IX is a TIGHAR-affiliated independent expedition organized and led by Dr. Tom King in association with a Betchart Expeditions tourist cruise to Nikumaroro. Dr. King, assisted by a staff of experts, will supervise on-shore research conducted by Betchart passengers. In addition, the National Geographic Society is sponsoring the use of four “forensic dogs” from the Institute for Canine Forensics. The dogs will search for human bones from which DNA might be extracted. TIGHAR is supporting the expedition with research and assets for underwater search operations to find identifiable pieces of the Earhart Electra. Representatives from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution will also accompany the expedition to service underwater sensors collecting data on wildlife.
Daily Reports
To avoid
lengthy download times, the updates are divided into seven
day periods. This page is the third week of the expedition. Date links refer
to U.S. days.
Reports
are in reverse date order so that those who check every day don’t have to
scroll down endlessly as the expedition progresses. If
you are new to this page, just click on the earliest date to the right (down
at the bottom of the list) and then scroll up to read each posting in order. For previous weeks, click on the “Week” links above.
To make a donation to the Earhart Project, click HERE.
Dateline: 6 July 2017, 1615 EDT: 6°25′40″ S, 175°58′50″W
Heading Home
Click on the map to open a much larger version in a new window.
The Niku IX expedition is on its way home. The past two days were spent at the Seven Site and diving in the main lagoon passage.
Nothing new to report from the Seven Site but divers have confirmed that, as we suspected, the bottom of the passage is littered with debris. Much of it appears to be pieces of Norwich City wreckage and probably junk from the village. Determining whether there is also airplane debris there will take a concerted effort that will have to wait for another time.
Prior to departing the island, the captain made a final evening circumnavigation. The Fijian crew members and Kiribati representatives performed a farewell ceremony in traditional garb.
The next update on the ship’s progress will be on Saturday.
Our special thanks to the corporate
and individual sponsors of The Earhart Project, without whom nothing would
be possible:
The
Earhart Project is funded by charitable contributions. Donations by check
(payable to TIGHAR) or credit card (Visa, Discover, American Express or Master Card) may be sent to TIGHAR,
The Earhart Project, 2366 Hickory Hill Road, Oxford, PA 19363, USA, or click on
the link above to make your contribution. Confidential inquiries regarding
sponsorship opportunities for individuals or corporations should be addressed
to Executive Director Richard Gillespie (email Ric@tighar.org).
Copyright 2021 by TIGHAR, a non-profit foundation.
No portion of the TIGHAR Website may be reproduced by xerographic,
photographic, digital or any other means for any purpose. No portion
of the TIGHAR Website may be stored in a retrieval system, copied,
transmitted or transferred in any form or by any means, whether electronic,
mechanical, digital, photographic, magnetic or otherwise, for any purpose
without the express, written permission of TIGHAR. All rights reserved.
