China’s 42nd Antarctic expedition begins full-scale operations

China’s 42nd Antarctic expedition has entered full-scale scientific operations, deploying drones and delivering essential supplies across its polar stations. Geological surveys are ongoing in the outer areas surrounding Zhongshan Station, where researchers are using drone-mounted hyperspectral imaging to capture multidimensional optical data of the terrain.

The icebreaker Xuelong completed a logistics mission at Qinling Station on December 28, delivering over 1,400 tons of supplies, and has since departed for New Zealand to begin the oceanic phase of the expedition.

The mission, which departed from Shanghai on November 1, 2023, is a 19-month scientific campaign scheduled to continue through May 2026. Qinling Station, China’s fifth Antarctic research station, began operations on February 7, 2024, while Zhongshan Station, built in 1989, is the country’s second permanent research facility in Antarctica.