The rescue of the Chilean miners hasbeen proceeding smoothly and methodically, but somewhat faster thanexpected.

About half of the 33 trapped men have been extracted, with someemerging as quickly as 39 minutes apart.

They've been riding up the more than 2,000 foot escape shaft ina special capsule. The 28-inch-diameter shaft has some curves, butChile's health minister says the capsule has not been rotating asmuch as officials had expected as it moves through them. That'sallowed the trip to go faster.

After 69 days, the miners have survived being trappedunderground longer than anyone on record. Their vital signs arebeing closely monitored as they make the journey up the shaft.They've been given a high-calorie liquid diet donated by NASAthat's designed to prevent nausea from any rotation of the capsule.

At the current pace, all 33 miners should be out before sunrisetomorrow.