Ric,
I'm not Ric, but while we wait for him to check in, I can answer some questions.
• What kind of and timing is there between Niku on-site communications with our TIGHAR web site here in the U.S.?
In the past, Ric has filed daily updates by satellite phone to Pat, and Pat has turned those into narratives on the website. So, for example, she has produced the
"Land Team Briefing" for starters.
• Is it possible to extend the on-site expedition if we hit the “mother lode”? At what cost?
Ric has answered this before. He said that
if it is possible to pick up material, they would ask permission before trying to collect it. The ROV is not capable of securing large pieces of wreckage.
• Are we prepared to publish real time results of the expedition and at the same time seriously/vigorously solicit additional funding as the project is on going?
Ric told us that this expedition is not being subsidized by a television network because TIGHAR wants to keep the rights to the film. My guess is that this means that we will not see "real time results," but will only get verbal updates as we have in the past.
If the Niku VIII is successful in locating the L-10 there is going to be an expediential increase in “what can we do next” and people are going to want to be personally involved. Are we prepared for such an eventually?
TIGHAR is prepared to undertake more expeditions to Niku in a general sense.
I can't imagine Ric trying to organize one while he is on one.
Having read all of the previous reports from all of TIGHAR's expeditions, I don't have the sense that there is a lot of free time or excess energy during the expedition itself. They work hard and need to rest deeply.