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Scientists Dive to WWII-Era USS Independence: How to Watch Live

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By Kacey Deamer
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USS Independence operated in the Pacific from November 1943 through August 1945, later joining more than 90 vessels in the Bikini Atoll atomic bomb tests in 1946. (Image credit: National Archives)

Join researchers on a dive to the wreckage of the USS Independence, a World War II-era aircraft carrier that was deliberately sunk off San Francisco in 1951.

The research vessel E/V Nautilus will broadcast video live online tonight (Aug. 22), beginning between 7 and 9 p.m. ET, as the research vessel conducts the first visual survey of the Independence, the deepest shipwreck in in the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary (GFNMS).

Last year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) acoustically mapped the wreckage, and scientists said the carrier is "amazingly intact." The mapping revealed the hull and flight deck were clearly visible. There also may be a plane in the carrier's hangar bay, according to the NOAA survey. The E/V Nautilus dive tonight will be the first visual survey of Independence. [Photos: World War II-era Aircraft Carrier Discovered]

During World War II, the Independence operated in the central and western Pacific between November 1943 and August 1945. The Independence later became one of more than 90 vessels in the target fleet for the Bikini Atoll atomic bomb tests in 1946. Though damaged by shock waves, heat and radiation, the Independence survived the Bikini Atoll tests and, like dozens of other Operation Crossroads ships, returned to the United States.

The Navy continued decontamination studies on the Independence while it was moored at San Francisco's Hunters Point Naval Shipyard. The damaged carrier was eventually towed out to sea for scuttling on Jan. 26, 1951.

While in the national marine sanctuary, the E/V Nautilus will also research the area's ecosystem to provide scientists with a better baseline understanding of the area. Specifically, the research will characterize the habitat of deep-sea coral and sponges for future studies on ocean acidification monitoring and impacts.

Currently on a four-month expedition to explore the eastern Pacific Ocean, the E/V Nautilus' mission is to explore the oceans and seek out the unknown. Past expeditions have included the discoveries of other previously unseen shipwrecks, sea creatures and more. The vessel is operated by the Ocean Exploration Trust, a nonprofit organization founded by oceanographer Robert Ballard.

Original article on Live Science.

Kacey Deamer
Kacey Deamer
Staff Writer
Kacey Deamer is a journalist for Live Science, covering planet earth and innovation. She has previously reported for Mother Jones, the Reporter's Committee for Freedom of the Press, Neon Tommy and more. After completing her undergraduate degree in journalism and environmental studies at Ithaca College, Kacey pursued her master's in Specialized Journalism: Climate Change at USC Annenberg. Follow Kacey on Twitter.