Ep 26. The World's Biggest Machines
- August 7, 2002
- 44 min
In Modern Marvels season 9 episode 26, viewers are taken on a journey to explore some of the biggest machines ever created by human beings. These machines have been built as a result of mankind's never-ending desire to push the boundaries of what is possible and have been instrumental in transforming our world in countless ways.
The episode starts by introducing viewers to some of the biggest machines that are commonly used in our everyday lives such as airplanes, ships, and trains. Viewers are then taken on a virtual tour of some of the biggest machines ever built, starting with the world's biggest excavator.
The excavator, which is known as the Bagger 288, is a 13,500-ton machine that is used to mine coal. This monster is over 300 feet tall and as long as three football fields, and it took five years to build. It can move up to 8.5 million cubic feet of earth per day and was designed to work in a strip mine in Germany.
The episode then moves on to explore the world's largest land vehicle, the BelAZ 75710. This monstrosity is over 20 meters long and weighs 800 tons. It is primarily used to transport enormous amounts of material in mining operations and was designed and built in Belarus.
In addition to exploring the biggest machines on land, the episode also delves into some of the biggest machines that are used in water. Viewers are introduced to the knock-nevis, which was once the biggest ship in the world and could hold over 600,000 tons of oil. The episode also takes a close look at the biggest cruise ship ever built, the Harmony of the Seas. This ship is incredibly large and can accommodate over 5,000 passengers with a crew of more than 2,000.
The episode then moves on to focus on some of the biggest machines that are used in the air. The Antonov An-225 Mriya, which is the world's biggest airplane and was designed to transport the Soviet Union's space shuttle, is featured. This giant aircraft has a wingspan of over 80 meters and is almost 275 feet long, making it an engineering marvel.
The episode also explores the biggest passenger jet in the world, the Airbus A380. The plane can seat up to 853 passengers and has a range of up to 15,200 kilometers. However, it takes a tremendous team effort just to get the plane off the ground, and the episode shows how every aspect of the plane, from the engines to the wings, has been carefully designed to make it the biggest and most advanced passenger jet ever built.
The final section of the episode looks at some of the biggest machines that are used for construction projects. Viewers are introduced to the biggest cranes in the world, including the Goliath crane, which is used to assemble cruise ships, and the RSK 300 crane, which can lift an incredible 600 tons.
The episode ends by highlighting the sheer scale and complexity of these modern marvels. It is a tribute to the ingenuity and relentless determination of mankind to push beyond the limits of what is possible by creating the biggest machines on earth.
In conclusion, Modern Marvels season 9 episode 26: The World's Biggest Machines, is a fascinating exploration of some of the most enormous and complex machines that have ever been built. It is a tribute to human imagination, innovation, and determination, and highlights how we have been able to transform our world by harnessing the power of these incredible structures.