China's manned deep-sea submersible Jiaolong completes 473rd dive

A senior mechanic inspects the high-pressure oil pump of a generator aboard the research vessel Deep Sea No. 1 on Oct. 13, 2026.

China's manned deep-sea submersible Jiaolong has completed its 473rd dive during an ongoing deep-sea scientific research mission through joint efforts of researchers, maintenance workers, and the crew team. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

Jiang Sheng (L), a maintenance worker, applies silicone grease to the sealing ring of the hatch cover of the manned submersible Jiaolong on Oct. 11, 2026.

China's manned deep-sea submersible Jiaolong has completed its 473rd dive during an ongoing deep-sea scientific research mission through joint efforts of researchers, maintenance workers, and the crew team. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

Cooks prepare lunch aboard China's research vessel Deep Sea No. 1 on Oct. 23, 2026.

China's manned deep-sea submersible Jiaolong has completed its 473rd dive during an ongoing deep-sea scientific research mission through joint efforts of researchers, maintenance workers, and the crew team. (Xinhua/Ye Haoming)

Wang Fengji, chief mate of the research vessel Deep Sea No. 1, adjusts the vessel's sailing direction and speed in coordination with the deployment of the manned submersible Jiaolong into the sea on Oct. 12, 2026.

China's manned deep-sea submersible Jiaolong has completed its 473rd dive during an ongoing deep-sea scientific research mission through joint efforts of researchers, maintenance workers, and the crew team. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

Tang Jialing, a submersible pilot, repairs a robotic arm of the manned submersible Jiaolong on Oct. 8, 2026.

China's manned deep-sea submersible Jiaolong has completed its 473rd dive during an ongoing deep-sea scientific research mission through joint efforts of researchers, maintenance workers, and the crew team. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

Qi Haibin, a submersible pilot, inspects the manned submersible Jiaolong on Oct. 13, 2026.

China's manned deep-sea submersible Jiaolong has completed its 473rd dive during an ongoing deep-sea scientific research mission through joint efforts of researchers, maintenance workers, and the crew team. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

Surface support technicians prepare for the deployment of the manned submersible Jiaolong into the sea on Oct. 10, 2026.

China's manned deep-sea submersible Jiaolong has completed its 473rd dive during an ongoing deep-sea scientific research mission through joint efforts of researchers, maintenance workers, and the crew team. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

A mechanic writes a work log aboard the research vessel Deep Sea No. 1 on Oct. 13, 2026.

China's manned deep-sea submersible Jiaolong has completed its 473rd dive during an ongoing deep-sea scientific research mission through joint efforts of researchers, maintenance workers, and the crew team. (Xinhua/Ye Haoming)

Liu Kun, a maintenance worker, inspects a propeller of the manned submersible Jiaolong on Oct. 9, 2026.

China's manned deep-sea submersible Jiaolong has completed its 473rd dive during an ongoing deep-sea scientific research mission through joint efforts of researchers, maintenance workers, and the crew team. (Xinhua/Ye Haoming)

Wang Guirong, a surface support technician, deploys the manned submersible Jiaolong into the sea on Oct. 11, 2026.

China's manned deep-sea submersible Jiaolong has completed its 473rd dive during an ongoing deep-sea scientific research mission through joint efforts of researchers, maintenance workers, and the crew team. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

The frogman team of the research vessel Deep Sea No. 1 prepares for the recovery of the manned submersible Jiaolong on Oct. 11, 2026.

China's manned deep-sea submersible Jiaolong has completed its 473rd dive during an ongoing deep-sea scientific research mission through joint efforts of researchers, maintenance workers, and the crew team. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

Surface support technicians of the manned submersible Jiaolong remove rust from a submersible rail transfer cart on Oct. 10, 2026.

China's manned deep-sea submersible Jiaolong has completed its 473rd dive during an ongoing deep-sea scientific research mission through joint efforts of researchers, maintenance workers, and the crew team. (Xinhua/Li Xin)

Maintenance workers and researchers install sample collecting tools on the manned submersible Jiaolong on Oct. 9, 2026.

China's manned deep-sea submersible Jiaolong has completed its 473rd dive during an ongoing deep-sea scientific research mission through joint efforts of researchers, maintenance workers, and the crew team. (Xinhua/Ye Haoming)

Chen Xinxing, a maintenance worker, inspects the underwater lighting system of the manned submersible Jiaolong on Sept. 26, 2026.

China's manned deep-sea submersible Jiaolong has completed its 473rd dive during an ongoing deep-sea scientific research mission through joint efforts of researchers, maintenance workers, and the crew team. (Xinhua/Ye Haoming)

Submersible pilots Qi Haibin (R) and Cheng Fei monitor the operation of the manned submersible Jiaolong on Oct. 10, 2026.

China's manned deep-sea submersible Jiaolong has completed its 473rd dive during an ongoing deep-sea scientific research mission through joint efforts of researchers, maintenance workers, and the crew team. (Xinhua/Ye Haoming)