The Integrated Ocean Drilling Program’s new drill ship Chikyu (“Earth” in Japanese) is launched in Tamano-shi, Japan, in January 2002. The 57,500-ton, 210-meter (689-foot)-long ship will be capable of drilling 7 kilometers (4.35 miles) below the seafloor—sufficient to reach the mantle. Its derrick was installed in September 2003 and after sea trials, Chikyu should be ready by late 2006. (Japan Marine Science and Technology Center
and the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program.)[back]
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