Technicians unleash China's manned deep-sea submersible, Jiaolong, June 15, 2012. China's manned deep-sea submersible, Jiaolong, made its first dive in the Mariana Trench on Friday, as part of a bid to go down as deep as 7,000 meters. The dive, which is the first of a series of scheduled six ones and began at 9 a.m. local time (2300 GMT Thursday), will attempt to reach a depth of 5,000 meters and last eight hours. (Xinhua/Luo Sha)

Technicians unleash China's manned deep-sea submersible, Jiaolong, June 15, 2012. China's manned deep-sea submersible, Jiaolong, made its first dive in the Mariana Trench on Friday, as part of a bid to go down as deep as 7,000 meters. The dive, which is the first of a series of scheduled six ones and began at 9 a.m. local time (2300 GMT Thursday), will attempt to reach a depth of 5,000 meters and last eight hours. (Xinhua/Luo Sha)

Three sea divers Cui Weicheng, Ye Cong and Yang Bo (L to R) pose for a photo aboard Xiangyanghong 09, mother ship of China's manned deep-sea submersible, Jiaolong, June 15, 2012. China's manned deep-sea submersible, Jiaolong, made its first dive in the Mariana Trench on Friday, as part of a bid to go down as deep as 7,000 meters. The dive, which is the first of a series of scheduled six ones and began at 9 a.m. local time (2300 GMT Thursday), will attempt to reach a depth of 5,000 meters and last eight hours. (Xinhua/Luo Sha)

Sea diver Cui Weicheng enters China's manned deep-sea submersible, Jiaolong, June 15, 2012. China's manned deep-sea submersible, Jiaolong, made its first dive in the Mariana Trench on Friday, as part of a bid to go down as deep as 7,000 meters. The dive, which is the first of a series of scheduled six ones and began at 9 a.m. local time (2300 GMT Thursday), will attempt to reach a depth of 5,000 meters and last eight hours. (Xinhua/Luo Sha)

China's manned deep-sea submersible, Jiaolong, is lifted to start its diving mission, June 15, 2012. China's manned deep-sea submersible, Jiaolong, made its first dive in the Mariana Trench on Friday, as part of a bid to go down as deep as 7,000 meters. The dive, which is the first of a series of scheduled six ones and began at 9 a.m. local time (2300 GMT Thursday), will attempt to reach a depth of 5,000 meters and last eight hours. (Xinhua/Luo Sha)

China's manned deep-sea submersible, Jiaolong, is seen aboard Xiangyanghong 09, its mother ship, June 15, 2012. China's manned deep-sea submersible, Jiaolong, made its first dive in the Mariana Trench on Friday, as part of a bid to go down as deep as 7,000 meters. The dive, which is the first of a series of scheduled six ones and began at 9 a.m. local time (2300 GMT Thursday), will attempt to reach a depth of 5,000 meters and last eight hours. (Xinhua/Luo Sha)

China's manned deep-sea submersible, Jiaolong, starts its diving mission, June 15, 2012. China's manned deep-sea submersible, Jiaolong, made its first dive in the Mariana Trench on Friday, as part of a bid to go down as deep as 7,000 meters. The dive, which is the first of a series of scheduled six ones and began at 9 a.m. local time (2300 GMT Thursday), will attempt to reach a depth of 5,000 meters and last eight hours. (Xinhua/Luo Sha)

Sea diver Ye Cong waves from inside China's manned deep-sea submersible, Jiaolong, before the diving mission starts on June 15, 2012. China's manned deep-sea submersible, Jiaolong, made its first dive in the Mariana Trench on Friday, as part of a bid to go down as deep as 7,000 meters. The dive, which is the first of a series of scheduled six ones and began at 9 a.m. local time (2300 GMT Thursday), will attempt to reach a depth of 5,000 meters and last eight hours. (Xinhua/Luo Sha)