China has achieved real-time transmission of deep-sea data at 6,000-meter depth through Beidou satellites for the first time, according to the Institute of Oceanology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

It is one of the breakthroughs Chinese scientists onboard research vessel Kexue, or "Science", made during its latest mission into the West Pacific. The scientists have also upgraded the country's scientific observation network in the West Pacific.

The vessel returned to its home port in the Qingdao West Coast New Area in Qingdao, Shandong province on Thursday.

The ship sailed more than 12,000 nautical miles during the 74-day mission, the longest distance and time it has covered outside the country since its maiden voyage.