First-ever 3D scans

Over a century after the Titanic sank, groundbreaking 3D scanning technology has revealed the most detailed view of the wreck yet. National Geographic and Atlantic Productions have partnered on a new documentary, Titanic: The Digital Resurrection, which showcases an exact digital replica—or “digital twin”—of the shipwreck. In 2022, deep-sea mapping company Magellan used underwater robots, Romeo and Juliet, to capture over 715,000 images and laser scans across a three-week mission. The resulting 16 terabytes of data created the largest underwater 3D scan ever made, enabling researchers to explore the Titanic like never before.

This digital model offers new insights into the wreck, including the discovery that a steam valve was likely left open to keep emergency power running. It confirms the ship is split into two major sections with the bow and stern 2,600 feet apart. The scan suggests the stern may have spiraled during its descent, explaining its disintegration. Displayed in life-size projections, the model allows detailed exploration and preservation of the ship’s structure. Historian Parks Stephenson calls the Titanic the “last surviving eyewitness” to the disaster, saying the wreck still holds untold stories. The documentary premieres April 11 on National Geographic and streams on Disney+ and Hulu.