China's Meng Xiang: Drilling 11km into the Earth's Crust

China's new deep-sea drilling vessel, the Meng Xiang ('Dream'), a colossal 42,600-ton vessel, aims to drill 11 kilometers beneath the ocean floor—deeper than ever before attempted. Equipped with a revolutionary hydraulic lifting mast and multiple drilling modes, it can adapt to various geological conditions. The primary goal is to penetrate the Mohorovičić discontinuity (Moho), unlocking secrets about Earth's internal composition and potentially discovering valuable resources. This represents a significant leap in China's deep-sea exploration capabilities and its strategic ambitions.