Upon the successful automatic rendezvous and docking of Shenzhou XI and Tiangong II and the entry of astronauts Jing Haipeng and Chen Dongxian into the spatial laboratory of Tiangong II for scientific experiments, SHOU Abyss team joined hands with China Space Foundation to hold their cooperation ceremony in the Space City in Beijing. Present at the ceremony were Lieutenant General Zhang Jianqi, President of China Space Foundation (former Chief of PLA General Armament Department, Director of Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center and Commander-in-Chief of China Manned Space Engineering Launching Site System), who presented his speech; Major General Zhang Yujiang, Secretary General of China Space Foundation (former Deputy Commander of Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center); Major General Zhang Shengyuan, Executive Director of China Space Foundation (former Deputy Political Commissar of Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center); Major General Sun Baowei, Consultant of China Space Foundation (former Secretary of the CPC Committee of Xichang Satellite Launch Center); Shen Xingyun, Director of the Propaganda Department of China Space Foundation (former First Chief of the Astronaut Battalion); Zhu Dezhou, Deputy Director of State Oceanic Administration, and so forth. Professor Cui Weicheng, Director of the SHOU Shenyuan Science and Technology Research Center, attended the ceremony, and gave a speech on behalf of the Abyss team. Also present at the ceremony were Li Jiale, SHOU Vice President; Zheng Weidong, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Committee and Director of the Propaganda Department; and Wu Xin, Shanghai Rainbowfish Ocean Technology Co., Ltd.
Lieutenant General Zhang Jianqi presenting his speech
Professor Cui Weicheng giving a speech
In the future, through the brand cooperation between China Space Foundation and Abyss Exploration in the fields of talent cultivation, scientific and technological innovation, popular science propaganda, military-civilian integration, both parties will jointly open a new chapter in the interactive development of space and marine science and technology. The cooperation between the Abyss team and China Space Foundation marks the common progress of the “Rainbowfish” abyss extreme challenge plan and China’s space exploration cause, and the joint pursuit of the dream of “clasping the moon in the Highest Heaven and seizing turtles deep down in the oceans”, the dream long-cherished by the Chinese nation over thousands of years.
As well put by Professor Cui Weicheng in his speech, “China plans to complete the construction of space station by 2020; the 11,000-m Mariana Trench abyss extreme challenge plan of “Rainbowfish” manned deep-sea submersible is also scheduled to be implemented by the same time. As soon as these plans are pulled off, China will become a powerful high-tech nation excelled in both space and marine science and technology.”
Lieutenant General Zhang Jianqi with SHOU representatives
The SHOU Shenyuan Science and Technology Research Center is currently developing the 10,000m-level manned deep-sea submersible. The program plans to build the first “mobile abyss science & technology laboratory” in the world, consisting of one 4,800-t scientific investigation mother vessel, one 10,000m-level full-ocean depth manned deep-sea submersible, one 10,000m-level full-ocean depth unmanned deep-sea submersible and three full-ocean depth landers. According to the plan, by 2020, “Rainbowfish” manned deep-sea submersible will challenge the 11,000m Mariana Trench, and realize the third manned depth determination in the history of mankind. This will also be the first manned 11,000-m deep submergence of China.