{
  "id": 16843159,
  "title": "China formally launches project to build aircraft carrier-sized ‘science island’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/28/china-formally-launches-project-to-build-aircraft-carrier-sized",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-28T04:00:10.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "South China Morning Post",
    "slug": "south-china-morning-post",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3372330/china-formally-launches-project-build-aircraft-carrier-sized-science-island"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "China has officially begun the engineering construction phase of a colossal maritime science project involving an aircraft carrier-sized floating artificial island. The Shanghai Jiao Tong University-led facility, expected to be completed by June 2030, will be the world's first mobile, self-sustaining artificial island. This revolutionary platform, named the Deep-Sea All-Weather Resident Floating Research Facility, fills a unique need by combining mobility and permanence. Unlike fixed research stations or conventional vessels, the floating island can cruise at 11 knots while supporting over 200 researchers. Officially designated as a major national scientific infrastructure project in China's 14th five-year plan, the structure measures 138 meters long and 85 meters wide, with its main deck 45 meters above water. Despite its massive displacement of around 74,000 tonnes, surpassing most conventional destroyers and research vessels, the platform remains stable even in extreme sea conditions. The facility will house six laboratories for research in heavy marine equipment, systems technology, meteorological observation, and long-term marine ecosystem monitoring. While officially a civilian research platform, the project's chief scientist has proposed a nuclear-blast-proof design. The ultra-large floating research platform will also be open to and shared with global research institutions and enterprises.",
  "summary": "China’s massive maritime science infrastructure – an aircraft carrier-sized floating artificial island – has officially entered its engineering construction phase. On October 18, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU), the facility’s lead developer, signed a construction contract worth over 2.7 billion yuan (US$405 million) with a shipbuilder under China State Shipbuilding Corporation, according to…",
  "key_points": [
    "China begins engineering construction of aircraft carrier-sized floating artificial island.",
    "Named Deep-Sea All-Weather Resident Floating Research Facility, expected completion by June 2030.",
    "Measures 138m x 85m, supports over 200 researchers in extreme sea conditions."
  ],
  "editors_take": "This massive mobile infrastructure signals a shift toward long-term, self-sustaining maritime presence that bridges the gap between traditional research vessels and permanent deep-sea scientific stations.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}