Shandong UniversityTitanicThe legendary Titanic is one of the most popular vessels of all time. Nearly 100 years after its sinking on April 14, 1912, it continues to captivate audiences and scientists from all around the world. With over 100 expeditions having gone to the Titanic, another is currently on the horizon. In 2011, there will be a Titanic dive expedition that will be open to the public and offer a once in a lifetime experience. Although the price is $40,000 per head, guests will be sent to the Titanic wreck in the MIR submersibles and will be able to witness the wreckage first hand. Offering a once in a lifetime look at the Titanic shipwreck, the expedition will allow select individuals to join an elite few who have seen the Titanic shipwreck in person; a group so exclusive that more people have been to space than have seen the Titanic wreck. Titanic HistoryThe Titanic was the largest passenger ship of her time. Equipped with the finest luxuries of the time and deemed virtually unsinkable, the massive vessel was truly a spectacle. When the Titanic sunk after a glancing blow from an iceberg in the Atlantic Ocean, 1,512 of the 2,223 passengers on board were killed, making it one of the largest peacetime maritime disasters in history. Although compliment with the lifeboat laws at time, the number of emergency vessels on board accounts for a large number of the fatalities as a result of the Titanic sinking. The aftermath of the sinking of the Titanic has led to changes in maritime law as well as controversy about whether the accident could have been avoided, and even a conspiracy surrounding the incident.Titanic Construction Port side of the TitanicThe Titanic was a White Star ocean liner and had two sister ships named the Olympic and the Britannic (originally called the Gigantic). This line of cruisers was designed to be the sturdiest and most luxurious ships of their time. Construction of the Titanic was founded by American industrialist J.P. Morgan and his international Mercantile Marine Co. and began in March 1909. The hull was launched a year later on March 31, 1911, and the outfitting was completed on March 31 of the following year. She was equipped with two reciprocating four-cylinder, triple-expansion steam engines and one low-pressure Parsons turbine, which powered three propellers. There were 29 boilers fired by 159 coal burning furnaces that made possible a top speed of 23knots (43km/h; 26mph). Only three of the four 62feet (19m) funnels were functional: the fourth, which served only for ventilation purposes, was added to make the ship look more impressive. The ship could carry a total of 3,547 passengers and crew.Offering passengers all of the aquatic luxuries of the time, the Titanic featured n on-board swimming pool, a gymnasium, a squash court, a Turkish bath, a Veranda Cafe and libraries in both the first and second class. Each room was decorated with beautiful and durable teak furniture adding to strong appearance of the virtually unsinkable Titanic. In addition, The Cafe Parisien offered first class guests an even more luxurious dining experience unlike anything ever seen on a cruise ship. She was also equipped with two Marconi radios, an electrical subsystem which provided lighting to the entire ship, and steam-powered generators. The most expensive one-way trans-Atlantic passage was $4,350 (which is more than $95,860 in 2008 dollars.Titanic Lifeboats Lifeboats on the Titanic were actually up to regulatory laws of the time, and even exceeded the number of required lifeboats. The Titanic lifeboat laws werent based on the capacity of the liner, but rather the projected tonnage of the vessel. The Board of Trade only required 16 lifeboats on the Titanic to comply with the laws. 1,178 individuals could use lifeboats, which was much smaller than the maximum capacity of the Titanic which was 3,600. Although the number of individuals that Titanic lifeboats could accommodate was much smaller than the maximum capacity, the Titanic actually went over what was required.Titanic Maiden Voyage The Titanic began her maiden voyage from Southampton, England, bound for New York City, New York, on Wednesday, 10 April 1912, with Captain Edward J. Smith in command. The Titanic was so large that it had to be anchored offshore and ferries carried passengers to her. Upon embarking, there was a grand total of 2,240 people aboard. Many famous individuals during the time were aboard the Titanic including White Stars managing director J. Bruce Ismay, and the ships builder Thomas Andrews.Titanic Sinks On Sunday, April 14, 1912, the temperature of the Atlantic Ocean dropped to near freezing; the night was clear and calm. The ships captain had received various ice warnings from other vessels, some of w