China plans deep-sea ‘space station’ to study 70 billion ton methane reserves

China is developing a deep-sea research facility in the South China Sea, set to be operational by 2030. Located 6,560 feet underwater, it will house up to six scientists for month-long missions to study ecosystems and methane hydrate reserves. The facility aims to establish a comprehensive monitoring system with unmanned submersibles, ships, and seabed observatories. The South China Sea contains an estimated 70 billion tons of methane hydrates, about half of China's current oil and gas reserves, making it a valuable potential energy source.