The Mission to Explore a Sunken Civil War Battleship

In 1862, the ironclad ship USS Monitor fought the Confederacy's CSS Virginia to a draw in the Battle of Hampton Roads, but later sunk during a storm off the coast of North Carolina. Now, 160 years later, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is leading a federal mission to explore and live stream the wreckage of the ship as it rests on the ocean floor. Helming that mission is NOAA  marine archaeologist Tane Casserley. The expedition began on May 15 and will run until May 25 with daily live streams online.

Recently, GovExec correspondent and frequent GovExec Daily guest Eric Katz interviewed Casserley about the mission and the ship. In this episode, you’ll hear their conversation.