In Chinese mythology, Jiaolong is a dragon often depicted as a scaled, hornless, and aquatic creature. The submersible was named after the mythical creature because of its ability to explore the depths of the ocean.
China’s deep-sea manned submersible Jiaolong conducted a deep-diving operation in the Western Pacific Ocean on Sunday 18 August 2024, with foreign scientists involved for the first time. This was its 300th dive since its maiden mission in August 2009.
Jialong is being carried by China’s Deep Sea No. 1 research vessel, which has scientists from China, Canada, Spain and Colombia aboard. The ship left Qingdao in east China’s Shandong Province on August 10.
During its 45-day expedition to the Western Pacific Ocean, Jiaolong is scheduled to collect deep-sea organisms, seawater and sediment, aiming to deepen our understanding of the unique ecosystems and environments of seamounts.
As of March 2024 more than half of the world’s manned deep diving missions have been completed by China’s three deep-sea manned submersibles, Jiaolong, Shenhai Yongshi (Deep Sea Warrior) and Fendouzhe (Striver) during the past three years.
The deep-sea manned submersibles are a significant example of the nation’s achievements in homegrown tech innovation as well as China’s active participation in helping the world to better understand, protect and explore the deep sea.
Fendouzhe is China’s first manned submersible that can reach the deepest part of the world’s oceans for scientific research and exploration. In November 2020, it made history when it successfully landed on the Mariana Trench in the western Pacific Ocean, the deepest point of the Earth, reaching a depth of 10,909 meters and setting a new record for the Chinese manned deep-diving mission.
Sources: PD China News and CGTN News, Aug 19, 2024. https://news.cgtn.com/…/China-s-Jiaolong-manned…/p.html
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