[meteorite-list] Scientists to Collect Meteorites in Antarctica in 22nd Exploration

From: Darren Garrison <cynapse_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Wed Aug 31 21:01:04 2005
Message-ID: <cukch15ljlm56hnul68h1ft8vvsqr6ki1o_at_4ax.com>

http://en.chinabroadcast.cn/2238/2005-9-1/88_at_269321.htm

China is expected to launch the 22nd exploration to the South Pole in November, aiming primarily to
collect meteorites on the Grove Mountain area.

Yang Huigen, deputy director of China's Polar Region Research Center, said in an interview with a
Shanghai newspaper that the scientific expedition will last for more than four months.

In addition to searching for meteorites, the expedition team will also investigate the feasibility
of setting up China's third scientific station in Antarctica, according to Yang.

So far, China has built two scientific stations in Antarctica, the Great Wall Station and the
Zhongshan Station.

The collection of meteorites will focus on the area of Grove Mountain, which is abundant in
meteorites. Chinese scientists have collected a total of 4,480 pieces of meteorites in previous
explorations, said Yang.

At present, the United States has more than 9,000 pieces of meteorites, and Japan has about 20,000
pieces.

Scientists believe that meteorites will offer lots of information on the evolution of the universe.
The special environment at the South Pole has helped preserve the meteorites, which because they are
typically more than 100,000 years old, are especially valuable to scientific research, said Yang.

He said Chinese scientists will also take part in international Antarctic research under ice lakes
and into global warming.

Sixty-five-year-old Yan Qide, a member of China's first Antarctic expedition team, said travelling
to Antarctica by ordinary people has become possible.

Currently, more than 10,000 international tourists visit Antarctica annually. The Antarctic Great
Wall Station receives more than 1,000 visitors every year, said Yan.

Ge Jianxiong, a professor with Fudan University who has taken part in the 17th Chinese Antarctic
expedition, said it is feasible to develop tourism in Antarctica properly.

Yan emphasized that the last pure land on the earth should be well protected in tourism development
Received on Wed 31 Aug 2005 09:06:08 PM PDT