The Jiaolong, China's manned deep-sea research submersible, Tuesday morning dived into the Mariana Trench, the deepest part of the world's oceans.
This is the latest of a string of major technological events that China has witnessed in the science and techworld over the past few months, including mining of flammable ice, maiden flight of homegrownlarge passenger jet C919, in-orbit refueling of cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-1, launch of the first domestically developed and built aircraft carrier.
Submersible Jiaolong descends to 4,811 meters in Mariana Trench
China's manned submersible Jiaolong finished a dive in "Challenger Deep" in the Mariana Trench, the world's deepest known trench, on May 25, 2017.
The whole dive lasted 8 hours and 50 minutes. During the dive, the submersible reached the planned depth of 4,811 meters, where scientists conducted observation, sampling and surveying, and collected seawater, rocks and samples of marine life, including a sea cucumber, a sponge and two starfish. The submersible also photographed the seabed.
The latest dive was the first of 10 dives planned for the third stage of China's 38th oceanic expedition.
 
China succeeds in mining combustible ice in South China Sea
China has succeeded in collecting samples of combustible ice in the South China Sea, a major breakthrough that may lead to a global energy revolution, Minister of Land and Resources Jiang Daming said on May 18, 2017.
This is China's first success in mining flammable ice at sea, after nearly two decades of research and exploration.
Experts believe that the success shows China has mastered combustible ice mining technology. It marks a historic breakthrough after nearly two decades of continuous efforts and independent innovations by China in theory, technology, engineering and equipment for natural gas hydrate exploration and exploitation.
 
Homegrown jumbo passenger jet C919 completes maiden flight.
China sent its homegrown large passenger plane C919 into sky on May 5, 2017, becoming one of the world's top makers of jumbo aircraft. The flight makes China the fourth jumbo jet producer after the United States, Europe and Russia. It also marks a milestone for the Commercial Aircraft Corp of China (COMAC), the Shanghai-based manufacturer of C919.
 
China launches first cargo spacecraft Tianzhou-1
China launched its first cargo spacecraft, Tianzhou-1, into space on April 20, 2017, a crucial step for the country in building a space station by approximately 2022.
In space, the cargo ship will dock with the orbiting Tiangong-2 space lab, provide fuel and other supplies, and conduct space experiments before falling back to Earth. China aims to build a permanent space station that is expected to orbit for at least 10 years, and the debut of the cargo ship is important as it acts as a courier to help maintain the space station. If the Tianzhou-1 mission is successful, China will become the third country besides Russia and the United States to master the technique of refueling in space.
 
China launches second aircraft carrier
China launched its second aircraft carrier on April 26, 2017, in a Dalian shipyard in Liaoning province, Northeast China. It is China's second aircraft carrier, coming after the Liaoning, a refitted Soviet Union-made carrier put into commission in the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy in 2012.
Putting the carrier into water marks progress in China's efforts to design and build a domestic aircraft carrier.