Breaking The Record
They had sunk to a depth of 40,230 feet by 1989, breaking the previous record (7.5 miles). This increased their self-confidence. If all goes well, they should be able to go well beyond 44,000 feet by the end of 1990.
Something Down There
It was even more impressive when they predicted they’d reach 49,000 feet by 1993. Underneath the remote tundra, however, there was something unexpected. Something that would make them halt their plans for a while.