180373d28c1014118dc103.jpg (Photo : www.chinadaily.com.cn)
Jiaolong, China's manned submarine, left Jiangyin in Jiangsu Province on Tuesday, starting its scientific research journey to Indian Ocean's southwest.
The Chinese deep-sea manned submarine was ferried by the Xiangyanghong-9 carrier.
The submersible will be on a four-month scientific voyage mission. According to National Deep Sea Center director Yu Hongjun, the sub will be diving 20 times to study biological diversity, genetic resources, polymetallic sulfides and hydrothermal microbes. Yu is also the chief commander for the Chinese sub's mission.
It will be Jiaolong's longest and furthest mission with regard to duration and distance.
Jiaolong, which is a mythical dragon's name, dived into the Mariana Trench in June 2012, reaching its depth record of 7,062 meters.
The scientific voyage involves 13 scientists. Maintenance staff for the sub has been reduced due to new advancements in the onboard technology. The scientists were trained rigorously to pilot the sub back to base when emergency situations arise.
China's second batch of aquanaut military trainees recruited in 2013 will be co-piloting the submersible; the dive mission will be the cadets' first, said Yu.
However, the mission is only a trial for the Chinese sub as it is still being tested for regular operation. Jiaolong's first trial voyage started from June up to September in 2013, which was just the first part of its five-year trial period before starting regular operations.
During the 2013 mission, the Chinese sub accomplished 21 dives exploring the Pacific's northwest and northeast as well as the South China Sea.
The Chinese sub also conducted a scientific voyage for 52 days in the Pacific Ocean's northwest earlier this year to research deep-sea life forms and cobalt-rich crusts.
