Core Insights - The article highlights China's successful completion of its 15th Arctic scientific expedition, marking the largest scale Arctic scientific investigation to date, featuring the first manned deep-sea dive in the Arctic ice region [1][3][15] Group 1: Expedition Overview - The expedition involved four vessels: "Snow Dragon 2," "Polar," "Deep Sea One," and "Explorer Three," and was characterized by the successful manned deep dive in the Arctic [1][3] - The "Deep Sea One" vessel, supported by "Snow Dragon 2," achieved China's first manned deep dive in the Arctic ice zone, indicating a new phase in China's deep-sea exploration capabilities [3][13] Group 2: Technical Challenges and Innovations - The expedition faced complex environmental challenges such as wind, waves, currents, ice, fog, and extreme cold, necessitating careful selection of dive points [5] - The "Deep Sea One" and "Snow Dragon 2" vessels operated in coordination, collecting critical data on oceanography, water chemistry, and ice conditions, significantly enhancing data comparability [17] - Innovations included real-time monitoring and the deployment of various unmanned observation devices, allowing for continuous data collection [21] Group 3: Equipment Modifications - The "Deep Sea One" and "Dragon" submersible underwent significant modifications to withstand the harsh Arctic conditions, including upgrades to hydraulic systems and communication equipment [22][24][26] - Specific adaptations were made to enhance cold resistance and ensure stable operation of critical components in extreme temperatures [24][27] - The communication and navigation systems were upgraded to maintain stable contact even in challenging conditions, improving recovery efficiency by over 30% [26]

Core Insights - The recent completion of China's 15th Arctic scientific expedition marks the largest Arctic scientific investigation to date, involving four vessels: "Xuelong 2," "Jidi," "Shenhai Yihao," and "Tansuo Sanhao" [1] - The expedition achieved a significant milestone with the successful manned deep-sea dive in the Arctic, indicating a new phase in China's deep-sea and polar exploration capabilities [1][3] Group 1 - The expedition not only achieved the "yes or no" breakthrough in manned deep-sea diving but also demonstrated strong capabilities in terms of quality and innovation, establishing a new model for the integration of polar and deep-sea exploration [3] - The collaboration between the two vessels for synchronized observation was a standout feature, enhancing data comparability and filling critical observational gaps in the Arctic's high-latitude regions [3] - The deployment of various unmanned observation devices in the high-latitude ice zone allowed for 24/7 monitoring, significantly increasing the expedition's analytical capabilities [3] Group 2 - The deep-sea equipment underwent modifications to withstand the extreme Arctic conditions, ensuring safe operations for "Jiaolong" and "Shenhai Yihao" [4][5] - Specific upgrades included cold resistance enhancements for the "Jiaolong," ensuring stable operation of hydraulic systems, titanium alloy components, and lithium batteries in extreme cold [5] - Communication and navigation equipment on "Shenhai Yihao" were upgraded to maintain stable contact with "Jiaolong," improving recovery efficiency by over 30% through a proactive approach [5]