Links to More Information about the Ben Franklin, the Piccards and the Gulf Stream:

Source Documents in PDF format

• NASA Documents and Photos:
  1. Use of the Ben Franklin submersible as a space station analog. Volume 1 - Summary technical report
  2. Use of the Ben Franklin submersible as a space station analog. Volume 2- Psychology and physiology
  3. Use of the Ben Franklin submersible as a space station analog. Volume 3 - Habitability
  4. Use of the Ben Franklin submersible as a space station analog. Volume 4 - Microbiology
  5. Use of the Ben Franklin submersible as a space station analog. Volume 5 - Maintainability
  6. Summary of NASA's Participation in the PX-15 GSDM - 23pages
  7. NASA Technical Memo The Man-related Activities of the Gulf Stream Drift Mission (GSDM) - 21 September 1970
  8. Transcript of NASA GSDM presentation - Chet May, 1969. 87pages
  9. NASA Future Applications of Ben Franklin Submersible as a Space Station Analogue - 25pages
  10. A space maintainability experiment aboard the Ben Franklin submersible during the 30-day Gulf Stream drift mission - 1972 Conference paper. 15pages
  11. Some archived NASA reports and official photos that are still available

  Other Documents and Publications in alphabetical order:

  1. A Dive Aboard Ben Franklin by Emery Ballard Wigley 10pages - PDF
  2. Appendix B Tabulated Ocean Scientific Data - PDF
  3. Ben Franklin GSDM Overview 96pages - PDF
  4. Ben Franklin GSDM Summary report 86pages - PDF
  5. BEN FRANKLIN Menu and Food List reduced pdf - PDF
  6. Ben Franklin Vehicle Description Grumman 1969 - PDF
  7. Exploring the Deep Oceans by Kenneth Haigh 1973 4pages - PDF
  8. Exploring the Gulf Stream by Jacques Piccard 1968 - PDF
  9. First Years Operation of the DRV Ben Franklin by Harold Dorr - PDF
  10. General Specification for NAVOCEANO Systems - PDF
  11. Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation Ben Franklin Brief Systems Description - PDF
  12. Grumman Ben Franklin brochure - PDF
  13. Grumman Ocean Data Systems Ben Franklin Overview 6pages - PDF
  14. Grumman Ocean Systems Newsletter March1968 - PDF
  15. Grumman Ocean Systems Newsletter October1968 - PDF
  16. Grumman Ocean Systems Newsletter Sept1967 - PDF
  17. Grumman Ocean Systems Operations Manual Ben Franklin - PDF
  18. Grumman Piccard PX15 - The Gulf Stream Project Proposal - PDF
  19. Grumman Piccard PX15 - Contract 1966 - PDF
  20. Grumman Plane News 12September1969 - PDF
  21. Grumman Plane News 28July1969 - PDF
  22. Grumman Plane News 29August1969 - PDF
  23. Grumman Press Release New York Harbor Welcome - PDF
  24. GSDM Report Daily Press Bulletins - PDF
  25. GSDM Report Mission Chronology 6pages - PDF
  26. How PX15 Hull was Constructed - PDF
  27. Log Sheets - 22November1968 4July1969 - test dives - PDF
  28. Log Sheets - 14July1969 10August1969 - Gulf Stream Drift Mission - PDF
  29. Log Sheets - 8September1969 15April1970 - post-GSDM dives - PDF
  30. Manned Submersible Development at Grumman - PDF
  31. Manned Submersible Optical Remote Sensing within the Gulf Stream - PDF
  32. Manned Submersibles by R Frank Busby 1976 - PDF
  33. ONR Ben Franklin Spectral Filter Tests - PDF
  34. Program Plan for NAVOCEANO Participation - PDF
  35. Technical Specifications for the GSDM with the Manned Submersible Ben Franklin - PDF
  36. The Propulsion System of the PX15 Research Bathyscaphe - PDF
  37. Undersea Technology Article - Ben Franklin's Undersea Mission by Frank Busby - May 1969 - PDF

Additional Materials and Information

• Vancouver Maritime Museum - Current home of the Ben Franklin
  1. Flags from the Gulf Stream Drift Mission
  2. Weigh Scales Used to Build PX-15 BEN FRANKLIN
  3. Builder's Model of PX-15 BEN FRANKLIN
  4. Description of the Ben Franklin from the Vancouver Maritime Museum
• Undersea explorer Jacques Piccard dies November 1, 2008, aged 86
• Swiss Rolex Explorer Jacques Piccard Now Belongs To The Ages
• With the "Mesoscaphe" in the depths of the sea a translation of From Sea to Shining Sea in the German magazine Scinexx
• They All Lived in a (White and) Yellow Submarine By Shira Boss-Bicak in Columbia College Today
• The Disappearance of the PX-15 - a Science Channel Documentary
• From Outer Space to Deep Sea - exhibition about the Piccard familiy at Musee du Leman
• Mesoscaphe - The album 'Mesoscaphe' is a sound work dedicated to the 1969 voyage of the Ben Franklin.
• The Ben Franklin returns to Vancouver
• The Ben Franklin Sails Again By Christopher Pollon
• Our First Space Station - NASA saw the Ben Franklin as a space station prototype.
• The Sun Beneath the Sea - Jacques Piccard's book about the Gulf Stream Drift Mission
• Amazing Century of the Piccards
• Bertrand Piccard website
• Interview with Bertrand Piccard
• LIVING ALOFT: Human Requirements for Extended Spaceflight
• Navicula Maritime Resources including stamps of the Ben Franklin
• Marine Topics on Stamps: Research Submersibles
• Interior Department Study Suggests need for Research Submarine - March 1963
• Saved From the Scrap Heap article from Nickel Magazine
• Development of Deep Submersible Vehicles in the U.S. 1958-1994
• 'Lost' Sub Surfaces for Historic Mission Reunion' a story in Diver Magazine November 2003
• The Unexpected Legacy of the Ben Franklin in the Marine Advanced Technology Education Center Triannual Newsletter Winter 2004
• Classic Dive Books - Oceanography and deep ocean exploration including Piccard's Sun Beneath the Sea
• Deep Sea Sub Story Resurfaces - Story from SpaceDaily
• First and Second edition cover image of Ken Haigh's book Cableships and Submarine Cables
• Photos of the Stern, Side, Viewports,Motor, Prop and Sail of the Ben Franklin at the VMM.
• Benjamin Franklin's 'Sundry Maritime Observations: 1785 letter discloses his announcement to the mariners of the world the existence of the Gulf Stream
• NASA feature- Deep Sea Sub Story Resurfaces
• Photo of Jacques Piccard and Erwin Aebersold (1976)and Jacques Piccard with Ben Franklin Model (1966)
• Chet May - Marshall University Press Release about “The Disappearance of the PX-15”

  Information about the Mesoscaphe Auguste Piccard

  1. Video archive of the Auguste Piccard on YouTube
  2. Photo archive of the Auguste Piccard on Google
  3. The Auguste Piccard at the Swiss Museum of Transportation in Lucerne
  4. The rededication of the Auguste Piccard at the Swiss Museum of Transportation in Lucerne
  5. The crazy adventure of the mesoscaphe Auguste Piccard by those who lived it
  6. Images of the Auguste Piccard prior to restoration
  7. Video of the Auguste Piccard from Expo 64
  8. Video of the launching of the Auguste Piccard
  9. Video of the building of the Auguste Piccard
  10. Photographs of the Auguste Piccard - including after her restoration

gene carl feldman (gene@seawifs.gsfc.nasa.gov) (301) 286-9428