China has made an all-out effort to explore every frontier in science
and technology, from stars in outer space to elements in an atom.
Now, Chinese scientists are
determined to probe the secrets of the deepest parts of oceans as they
are developing a manned submersible capable of reaching the bottom of
the Mariana Trench in the western Pacific Ocean, the deepest trench
known to man.
To the best of scientific knowledge, the deepest portion of the trench is 11,034 meters.
The submersible, which has yet
to be named, is being designed at the China Ship Scientific Research
Center in Wuxi, Jiangsu province, and will conduct its first trial
operation in the coming five years according to Wang Junli, deputy
director of science and technology at China Shipbuilding Industry Corp,
the world's largest shipbuilder and parent company of the center.
Wang told a news briefing held
by CSIC on Tuesday after its annual work conference in Beijing the
submersible will be able to operate in any ocean area and will be
piloted by several crew members.
Preliminary design for the
deep-sea craft has been finished and engineers have begun to develop
major devices on it, Wang noted, adding most of its equipment will be
domestically developed.
Currently, the nation operates
two manned deep-sea submersibles — Jiaolong and Shenhai Yongshi, or
"Deep-Sea Warrior". Both were designed and built by CSIC.
source:http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/m/jiangsu/wuxi/2018-02/02/content_35632261.htm
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