China's submersible to focus on scientific research

China's first manned submersible today left on its maiden voyage to conduct scientific research in the resource-rich South China Sea and Pacific Ocean, including deep-sea ecological and geological surveys.
Aboard its support ship Xiangyanghong-9, the deep-sea research submersible Jiaolong left a port in east China's Jiangsu Province for a 103-day mission during which it will work under water in the South China Sea, the northeast Pacific Ocean and the west Pacific.
The mission will mark the start of a five-year trial period for Jiaolong before it starts regular operation, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
This mission will focus on scientific research, rather than pursuing a greater depth of diving, it said.

The submersible had set a new dive record in June 2012 after reaching 7,062 meters deep in Pacific Ocean's Mariana Trench.
During the first period of the mission, Jiaolong will conduct experiments on its positioning system, as well as deep-sea ecological and geological surveys in the South China Sea.

It will then carry out a number of tasks, including a biological survey, geological sampling and deep-sea photography in the northeast Pacific Ocean.
In the third stage, Jiaolong will conduct research on cobalt-rich crusts in the northwest Pacific.
For the first time, scientists will be on board the vessel, with 14 of them qualified for diving. Each submerge will have two aquanauts and one scientist on board.