1986: Pictures from the Titanic

In this extract from the 'Today' programme, Commander Mark Newhart of the US Navy and expedition director Dr Robert Ballard describe their robotic underwater camera, known as the Jason Jr, which they have used to take remarkable photos of the wreck of the RMS Titanic. Jason Jr, the remote-controlled camera mentioned in this item, was connected to the US Navy research submersible Alvin by a 300ft fibre-optic cable. Jason Jr was used on many subsequent missions before it was lost in the Pacific Ocean when a barge transporting it to the Galapagos Islands sank in 1991. Photo: PA.

BBC Archive: Originally broadcast 16 July 1986.