NYTimes.com reports, as the sun set here in northern Chile, workers tightened bolts and maneuvered into place the specially designed capsule called the Phoenix II. It is to lower a rescuer the half-mile down through a narrow hole to the haven of the trapped men — and then raise one miner to the surface of the earth.
The emerging men will be shielded from the crush of media as they emerge, with only a government photographer and Chile’s state television channel permitted access, The Associated Press reported. A 30-second transmission delay is to control for the unexpected.
News organizations in the United States planned large-scale coverage. CNN said its news shows would feature extensive coverage throughout the night and into Wednesday morning. MSNBC planned live broadcasts throughout the night. Fox News had an anchor on standby during the political shows that dominate its evening programming, with more anchors lined up through the night.
The broadcast networks all have reporters at the site of the mine as well, for their morning shows and evening newscasts. CBS and NBC said they would update their nightly newscasts for each time zone with the latest information about the miners.
“It’s fair to say the whole world will be watching,” the NBC correspondent Kerry Sanders wrote on msnbc.com Monday. “I can’t predict my reaction, but like the families who have held vigil here on the surface, I’m excited.”
He added, “Isn’t it about time we all shared some good news?”
As the vast team of rescue workers, medical personnel, technicians and mining experts prepared to enter the final phase, the colorful scene reflected the huge scale of the operation that has captured the attention of the world: more than 1,400 journalists, together with anxious and elated family members of the miners, gathered to witness the rescue.
Hundreds of journalists swarmed family members for comments. Signs proclaiming “Strength, Miners!” dotted the camp, as red, white and blue Chilean flags waved wildly in the sunshine.
Against this backdrop, Mr. Golborne maintained a tone both calmly optimistic and cautious. Tests on the stability of the capsule were carried out on Monday, he said, and tests on the lifting system still have to be conducted in the next few hours on Tuesday before the rescue can begin. “The capsule has not gone down all the way to the floor of the mine,” he added.
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