China's Antarctic expedition came back to eastern hemisphere
- Source: Global Times
- [13:22 November 30 2009]
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China's Snow Dragon vessel crossed zero meridian at the Antarctic Circle and returned to the eastern hemisphere at 16:45 local time (1:45 am Beijing time) Saturday during its 26th Antarctic expedition.
The Snow Dragon entered the western hemisphere November 1 before restocking supplies at the Great Wall Station and the Port of Ushuaia, Argentina. The vessel left for Zhongshan Station in eastern Antarctica November 22.
Zhu Bing, first mate of the Snow Dragon, said the vessel was expected to arrive at Zhongshan Station around December 8. The vessel has covered a distance of more than 13,400 nautical miles (24,817km).
Two exploration teams will be sent to inner Antarctica to conduct infrastructure construction and scientific research after arriving at Zhongshan Station.
One team will head to China's Kunlun Station located at Dome A, the highest point on the continent at 4,093 meters above sea level. They will install some research equipment for astronomical observation.
The other will go to Grove Mountains, about 400 kilometers away from Zhongshan Station to collect meteorolites and conduct other scientific research.
