{"id":24123,"date":"2026-10-09T09:26:32","date_gmt":"2026-10-09T13:26:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/?p=24123"},"modified":"2026-10-09T11:40:07","modified_gmt":"2026-10-09T15:40:07","slug":"earhart-expedition-update-crew-at-sea-expected-to-arrive-on-nikumaroro-in-72-hours","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/2026\/Q4\/earhart-expedition-update-crew-at-sea-expected-to-arrive-on-nikumaroro-in-72-hours","title":{"rendered":"Earhart expedition update: Crew at sea, expected to arrive on Nikumaroro in 72 hours"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

HALFWAY BETWEEN TARAWA AND NIKUMARORO, Kiribati \u2014 The Marin Mainiku, the Kiribati National Shipping Line vessel transporting the Taraia Object expedition team, is approaching the halfway point Friday as the crew continues its voyage across the vast South Pacific toward Nikumaroro Island.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A satellite image shows the Taraia Object in a lagoon on Nikumaroro. (Photo provided by Rick Pettigrew, Archaeological Legacy Institute)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Archaeological Legacy Institute (ALI), Purdue Research Foundation and Purdue University have embarked on this expedition in an attempt to solve the disappearance of Amelia Earhart during her mission to become the first person to fly around the world at the equator. Their focus will be inspecting the Taraia Object, an anomaly in Nikumaroro\u2019s lagoon first noticed in satellite imagery in 2020 and later confirmed to be visible on aerial photos taken as far back as 1938.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The vessel is making good time and is tentatively expected to arrive at Nikumaroro around midday Monday, Oct. 12, Eastern time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Traveling at an average speed of 7 knots, or about 8 miles per hour, the crew had sailed approximately 370 of the 830 nautical miles from Tarawa, Kiribati, to Nikumaroro at the time of this publication.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Earhart team underway<\/h2>\n

From left: Boilermakers Steve Schultz, Sirisha Bandla and Marc Hagle enjoy the view from outside the pilothouse. <\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

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Earhart team underway<\/h2>\n

The crew reports mostly calm seas and favorable wind conditions. <\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

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Earhart team underway<\/h2>\n

Steve Schultz, left, poses with Helmut Schleppi, filmmaker. <\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

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Earhart team underway<\/h2>\n

Expedition team members test equipment ahead of their island arrival. <\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

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Earhart team underway<\/h2>\n

Technology specialists Sirisha Bandla, left, and Laura Kennedy, right, pose with Steve Schultz. <\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

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Earhart team underway<\/h2>\n

Sunrise over the Pacific Ocean. <\/p>\n <\/div>\n\n

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