(251101) -- SHANGHAI, Nov. 1, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Members of the scientific expedition team bid farewell to their relatives, friends and colleagues on China's polar research icebreaker Xuelong, or Snow Dragon, in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 1, 2025. China's 42nd Antarctic expedition team set sail from Shanghai on Saturday.
During this expedition, a suite of new technologies will be deployed and tested in the icy wilderness of the Antarctic. Core hardware for validation includes China's independently developed and manufactured Snow Leopard 66 wheeled vehicle and the THT550 high-power fully hydraulic towing equipment.
"The mission is supported by both the Xuelong and Xuelong 2 polar research icebreakers," said Long Wei, deputy director of the Chinese Arctic and Antarctic Administration, adding that the team is scheduled to conclude the mission by May 2026 and return to China.
TO GO WITH "2nd LD-Writethru-China Focus: China kicks off 42nd Antarctic expedition with new polar research, equipment" (Xinhua/Fang Zhe)
