What Could Elon Musk Do to Save the Thai Cave Kids?
First, it’s worth noting that the entrepreneur of mu Space Corps, a Thailand-based satellite communications provider, tweeted a few hours after Musk’s response that SpaceX had reached out to his company in order to connect with the Thai government, so plans for Musk’s tunneling equipment reaching Tham Luang Nang Non may already be in motion. As for how digging holes may help the kids, it’s one dangerous but feasible option for escape.
Drilling would put the humans below at risk of being crushed by debris or further trapped by fallen rock, but it could also offer a faster solution than learning to dive and in order to swim out of the cave. And if authorities fail in that respect, the group of 13 could be trapped for months as the result of continued monsoon flooding.
Additional power for pumps, along with bigger machinery, were two suggestions Musk offered, along with the ability to fly in the necessary technology. If enough water can be pumped out quickly, the boys could just walk out of the cave. Currently, more than 31 million gallons have already been removed, and additional rock needs to be drilled to allow for pumps to reach the interior. That’s another problem Musk and his team’s engineering skills could assist with.
One thing is for certain: It’s a race against time to bring the young team home to safety, and any additional resources to expedite the process would likely be welcome.