need to add title here

The Great Explorer, Part 1

November 29, 2009 1:16 PM

Robert Ballard discovered the Titanic, the Bismarck and the PT 109 and now 60 Minutes cameras are there for his latest discovery, 1,500 feet down in the Aegean Sea. Lara Logan reports.

Bob Ballard, The Great Explorer
Add a Comment See all 13 Comments
by foofya December 3, 2009 9:54 AM EST
Between 60 Minutes and CBS Sunday Morning, you make television worth watching. I like all the topics you cover, especially ones like Bob Ballard explorations. Thank you so much.
Reply to this comment
by darlenesimeone December 1, 2009 1:28 PM EST
I found the story on Bob Ballard very interesting. I was wondering if we couldn't use his talents to search for the missing pilots that were lost during the Vietnam War, who have been listed for so many years as MIA's. Many went down in the Gulf of Tonkin, which is not all that deep. It would certainly give closure to families who have been mourning their missing loved ones for all these years.
Reply to this comment
by Esther1201 December 1, 2009 1:18 PM EST
Nowhere did I hear a word mentioning Ralph White who was 1 of the 2 discoverers of the Titanic. Should not both have been mentioned?
Reply to this comment
by rickferry November 30, 2009 11:14 PM EST
It is interesting, and perhaps more common than we thought, that covert operations funded by the government is carried out by "private non-governemnt organizations". In this regard, Dr. Ballard's name can be added to that of Mr. Howard Hughes (Glomar Explorer) in providing information or recovery services regarding ill fated military vessels for Pentagon and US Government organizations. These services were provided under the guise of "potential for mining operations from a mobile sea platform" and later, for Dr. Ballard to find the location of the "Titanic". The Glomar Explorer found and partially recovered a Russian Submarine. Dr. Ballard found the exact location of the submarines Thresher and Scorpion. Both of which were lost to bulkhead failure (poor engineering and/or manufacturing) versus hunter killer operations of another foreign power. Legacys..........
Reply to this comment
by trigon59 November 30, 2009 5:13 PM EST
Why must you make the jewelry industry the whipping boy. how much gold is used in the electroic industry, or in the financl buisness.
If you must target jewelers why dont you talk about how many ounes of gld or sold over the counter to the jewelers buy people who acctual dont own it. Also how little some of the gold buyers pay for the gold some as little a 50% of what the true value is.
Reply to this comment
by verita18 November 30, 2009 12:37 AM EST
This was a very interesting report. Still, it is a little off-putting to have the reporter describe the Titanic as a "massive cruise liner".
The Titanic was a transatlantic ocean liner, not at all the same animal as a cruise ship. Other than this annoying little error, I thought she presented the story very nicely.
Reply to this comment
by vkipper November 29, 2009 11:52 PM EST
When in the area of the Alacram reef, Gulf of Mexico look for the shipwreck of my Grandfather's ship. Shipwrecked Jan 16, 1891. He was one of several rescued by a banana boat en route to NYC. He stayed in USA. Always been interested in this....vkipper@lycos.com
Reply to this comment
by bahtat November 29, 2009 11:17 PM EST
I would like to see Dr Ballard find the "Bonhomme Richard" which sank off the coast of East Yorkshire after a battle with "HMS Serapis".
Now that would be a really great find for the USA.
Reply to this comment
by hrpro55 November 29, 2009 11:11 PM EST
This segment on Bob Ballard's exploration was the most interesting television I've seen in years. Congratulations 60 minutes on quality reporting. This story is riveting for it's historical and scientific significance. Mr Ballard is clearly a man living his dream who is making a meaningful difference in the world. That's the definition of a life well lived. I would love to see more coverage of this man and his amazing discoveries. I look forward to the next segment!
Reply to this comment
by Petescharm November 29, 2009 9:12 PM EST
I watched this segment with great interest,and I salute Bob Ballard in his endeavors. I want to suggest for him to investigate a mystery since the early days of aviation: finding the wreck of Amelia Earhart's plane! I believe he could to it!
Reply to this comment
See all 13 Comments
Recent Segments

60MinutesOverTime

60 Minutes Overtime is a weekly web show that begins where the weekly television broadcast ends

  • 48 Hours iPad App

    Big changes for the 2012-2013 season! Watch the current week's episode for FREE up to a week after it airs or subscribe for access to all shows, classic episodes and more!