Crew members aboard the Haiyang-6 research vessel retrieve a research equipment set from the Pacific Ocean, June 11, 2012. Haiyang-6 met with Xiangyanghong 09, an oceanographic ship carrying China's manned deep-sea submersible, the Jiaolong, at the designated dive area of the Mariana Trench on Monday. Scientists aboard Haiyang-6 have launched maritime environment surveys here to provide technical support to the Jiaolong, which will attempt the world's deepest manned submersible dive by going 7,000 meters under the surface of the Pacific Ocean between mid-June and early July. (Xinhua/Zhou Wenjie)

Crew members aboard the Haiyang-6 research vessel collect sea water samples from various depths underneath the Pacific Ocean, June 11, 2012. Haiyang-6 met with Xiangyanghong 09, an oceanographic ship carrying China's manned deep-sea submersible, the Jiaolong, at the designated dive area of the Mariana Trench on Monday. Scientists aboard Haiyang-6 have launched maritime environment surveys here to provide technical support to the Jiaolong, which will attempt the world's deepest manned submersible dive by going 7,000 meters under the surface of the Pacific Ocean between mid-June and early July. (Xinhua/Zhou Wenjie)

Crew members aboard the Haiyang-6 research vessel retrieve a research equipment set from 6,950 meters below the surface of the Pacific Ocean, June 11, 2012. Haiyang-6 met with Xiangyanghong 09, an oceanographic ship carrying China's manned deep-sea submersible, the Jiaolong, at the designated dive area of the Mariana Trench on Monday. Scientists aboard Haiyang-6 have launched maritime environment surveys here to provide technical support to the Jiaolong, which will attempt the world's deepest manned submersible dive by going 7,000 meters under the surface of the Pacific Ocean between mid-June and early July. (Xinhua/Zhou Wenjie)

Crew members aboard the Haiyang-6 research vessel put away a research equipment set, June 11, 2012. Haiyang-6 met with Xiangyanghong 09, an oceanographic ship carrying China's manned deep-sea submersible, the Jiaolong, at the designated dive area of the Mariana Trench on Monday. Scientists aboard Haiyang-6 have launched maritime environment surveys here to provide technical support to the Jiaolong, which will attempt the world's deepest manned submersible dive by going 7,000 meters under the surface of the Pacific Ocean between mid-June and early July. (Xinhua/Zhou Wenjie)