Abstract: To explore a astaxanthin extraction process from hydrolyzing the antarctic krill shell by papain. Results through the optimization test the optimal acetone extraction conditions were sample/solution 1 ∶32 (g ∶mL ) , extraction temperature 39℃ , extraction time 416min. And the optimal hydrolyzing conditions of papain were solid∶liquid 1∶113 (g∶mL) , E/S 6∶100, temperature 50℃ , hydrolyzed time 185min, pH=5 by designing another optimization test. Under the experimental conditions , the amount of the total carotenoids (astaxanthin ) was (350.709±12.060) μg in per gram dried krill shell. The amount was higher 53.214% than the amount of acetone direct extraction (228.902±6.761) μg/g.