In March of 1968 a Soviet submarine was lost with all hands 16,500 feet below the surface of the Pacific Ocean. In 1974 portions of the submarine were brought to the surface using a covert recovery system designed specifically for the mission. The story of the more than six years intervening is the story of Project AZORIAN, that is, the story of the MV Hughes Glomar Explorer. This endeavor ranks at the forefront of imaginative and bold operations. It combines immense size and scope, advancements with technology, complex engineering and testing, and a demanding mission scenario in an unforgiving marine environment. While some aspects of the