Centennial Exhibition on Chinese Scientists and Lunar Soil Sample features PolyU's contributions to national space missions

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is honoured to be invited to the Centennial Exhibition showcasing Chinese scientists and a lunar soil sample, which starts from tomorrow at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

PolyU has been deeply involved in China’s lunar and Mars missions. Our researchers helped select safe landing sites with high scientific value through innovative topographic mapping and geomorphological analysis. We also designed and manufactured space instruments that could withstand punishing conditions in space, underscoring our strength in cutting-edge precision engineering technology. These instruments accomplished missions from taking pictures on Mars’ surface to automatically sampling regolith on the moon.

Chief Executive Carrie LAM officiated today’s inauguration of the exhibiton and toured PolyU’s booth with great interest. “Hong Kong people have particular attachment to the Chang’e lunar exploration programme… because Hong Kong’s tertiary institutions have been involved: PolyU’s research team collaborated with the China Academy of Space Technology in the development of the ‘Surface Sampling and Packing System’ for the Chang’e-5 and -6 missions,” said Lam. She remarked that she was very proud of local tertiary institutions’ contributions to the Nation’s space programmes and hoped there would be more commissioned astronautical projects to come. Lam added that Hong Kong has a strong foundation in basic research and has contributed to the Nation in various science and technology areas.

Dr TAN Tieniu, Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong SAR who also officiated the opening, praised PolyU’s Professor YUNG Kai-leung, Director of the University Research Centre for Deep Space Explorations, and Professor WU Bo, Associate Head of Department of Land Surveying and Geo-informatics, for leading their research teams and making significant contributions to China’s lunar and Mars exploration programmes.

Tan added: “Hong Kong has the advantages of excellent basic research; a high degree of internationalization; being a meeting point of Chinese and Western cultures; and a comprehensive system of services. It can play a unique role in developing original innovations, attracting talents, fostering international collaboration, and providing science and technology intermediary services. I believe there will be more ‘Hong Kong wisdoms’ and ‘Hong Kong solutions’ in the Nation’s drive for innovation.”

The lunar soil sample brought by the Chang’e-5 mission will be for the first time displayed in Hong Kong at the exhibition. Meanwhile, the neighbouring PolyU booth will exhibit several real space instruments developed by the University, including the “Surface Sampling and Packing System” that collected the lunar soil; the Mars camera mounted on the Tianwen-1 lander platform; and the camera pointing system on the Chang’e-4 probe that captured a 360-degree panorama image of the mysterious far side of the moon.

At the booth, visitors will also be able to experience spacewalking on the moon and Mars through PolyU’s virtual reality simulation of the landing sites of the Chang’e-3, -4, -5 and Tianwen-1 spacecrafts. They will even be able to touch the moon’s and Mars’ surfaces reproduced by 3D printing.

Being the only tertiary institution in Hong Kong that possesses national space qualification experience, PolyU has recently established the University Research Centre for Deep Space Explorations that pools together experts in different fields such as geology, remote sensing, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, and physics to conduct in-depth research in different aspects of aerospace technology. It will also provide opportunities for Hong Kong’s young people to participate in the Nation’s space endeavours.

PolyU will continue to realise our vision to benefit the Nation and Hong Kong by nurturing talents and pursuing cutting-edge scientific research. The University will strive to innovate in the areas of frontier sciences, national priorities, key economic developments, and safeguarding human life and health.

 

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