OceanGate made headlines recently when their Titan submersible disappeared near the Titanic wreckage. Later, authorities confirmed that the Titan had imploded, resulting in the tragic loss of five passengers, including co-founder Stockton Rush. Although Söhnlein had parted ways with OceanGate in 2013, he still held a minority stake in the company.
Now, Söhnlein has shifted his focus away from ocean ventures and is aiming for a remarkable endeavor among the stars. He envisions establishing a floating human colony amidst the skies of Venus by the mid-century.
While Venus might not be the primary candidate for human exploration and colonization, Söhnlein remains undeterred by its challenging conditions. Despite its size and mass resembling Earth's, Venus possesses a starkly different environment. With an atmosphere laden with greenhouse gases, it retains intense heat from solar radiation, resulting in scorching year-round temperatures of 475 Celsius (900 Fahrenheit).
Nevertheless, Söhnlein believes there's a potential sweet spot in the upper atmosphere where conditions could be more hospitable. This is the location he has in mind for his Humans2Venus colony—a floating city positioned 30 miles above Venus' surface. His commitment to this ambitious idea remains unshaken, even in light of the tragic failure experienced by OceanGate.
In an interview with Business Insider, he expressed his perspective: "Disregard OceanGate, the Titan, and Stockton. Humanity might be standing at the brink of a significant breakthrough, and we must not squander this opportunity due to the risk of setbacks. As a species, we could face stagnation and regression if we don't seize the chance to move forward."
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