Some time around 1904, he gave up photography and took up exploration.
This included attempts at the North Pole and the Trans-Atlantic crossing – both attempted in Walter Wellman's airship America.

At the first attempt to cross the Atlantic in 1910, Vaniman sent one of the first aerial radio transmissions when he urged the launch boat to "come and get this goddam cat!"
The cat had caused such a ruckus that it had to be placed inside a gunny sack and suspended below the airship's gondola.

They anticipated a five-day crossing, but the airship's motor failed after 38 hours, leaving it adrift until it was rescued two days later by the SS Trent, a passing Royal Mail steamship.
Some time around 1904, he gave up photography and took up exploration. This included attempts at the North Pole and the Trans-Atlantic crossing – both attempted in Walter Wellman's airship America.
At the first attempt to cross the Atlantic in 1910, Vaniman sent one of the first aerial radio transmissions when he urged the launch boat to "come and get this goddam cat!" The cat had caused such a ruckus that it had to be placed inside a gunny sack and suspended below the airship's gondola.
They anticipated a five-day crossing, but the airship's motor failed after 38 hours, leaving it adrift until it was rescued two days later by the SS Trent, a passing Royal Mail steamship.
Melvin Vaniman