Given the passage of time, it is perhaps understandable that the fate of 33 Chilean miners trapped about half a mile underground since early August has attracted less public attention than it did initially. There have been updates about the on-going rescue mission and the miners, but global attention shifted to other topics shortly after the Aug. 5 disaster. That is about to change. The most difficult part of the rescue operation could begin soon and, if all goes well, the men could be above ground by month's end.
Chilean officials say that a shaft being drilled toward the miners is almost at its target. Once the shaft is completed - perhaps in a couple of days - rescue can begin in earnest. It will be dangerous work. There is little room for error if the miners are to be brought safely to the surface, but the care and planning that has been the hallmark of the rescue effort from its inception should mitigate the likelihood of problems.
Officials still must decide if they need to line the shaft with steel casing, to reinforce it and to serve as a buffer between the shaft's walls and rescue capsules. The capsules, more than 6 feet in height, about 21 inches in diameter and equipped with oxygen and communications equipment, will bring the miners to the surface. Officials at first worried that some miners might not fit into the tiny capsules. Now, there is general agreement that all will.
A trainer has worked with the miners for weeks. He says the men appear to be in relatively good condition and that some have lost about 20 pounds in preparing for rescue. Physicians and other experts, some from NASA, have worked ceaselessly to physically and mentally prepare the miners for both the ascent and for what might happen on the surface. Those personal preparations are as complex as the technical aspects of the rescue.
Physicians worry that the trip to the surface will be too taxing for men who have spent so long underground One concern is that blood will pool in the miners' legs while they are standing in the narrow capsule, causing them to faint. To help prevent that, the miners have been following a workout regimen to strengthen their legs. That's not the only medical concern.
Other worries include the possibility of damage to their retinas from bright light. After two months underground, their eyes would not be accustomed to it. Physicians also are concerned about the possibility of infection from germs common to the surface but perhaps dangerous to men who have not been exposed to them recently. Immediate immunization is planned to counteract that possibility.
Much remains to be done before the men are safely reunited by their families,. Nothing is assured. Still, the combination of technical expertise that has allowed rescuers to drill a shaft to reach the miners and the meticulous planning undertaken to help them adapt anew to normal life and activity above ground is impressive. Some might call it a miracle. Others more rightly call it a testament to indomitable will and to human ingenuity and spirit.