On 3 June 2024, following the soft landing of the Chang’e-6 probe, the PolyU-developed “Surface Sampling and Packing System” accomplished the tasks of automatic sample collection and packaging on the lunar surface, marking a milestone in human space exploration. The probe took off from the moon on 25 June 2024, transporting the first-ever lunar soil samples from the far side of the Moon to Earth.
The system was developed and manufactured by a research team led by Ir Prof. YUNG Kai-leung, Director of the Research Centre for Deep Space Explorations (RCDSE), Sir Sze-yuen Chung Professor in Precision Engineering, Chair Professor of Precision Engineering and Associate Head of the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, in collaboration with the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST).
Unlike previous methods adopted by other countries that involve drilling or manual excavation, PolyU’s Surface Sampling and Packing System performs fully automated multi-point lunar surface sampling with a packaging mechanism. In Hong Kong, PolyU was involved in the design and manufacturing of Samplers A and B, together with two high-temperature near-field cameras for multi-point surface sample collection and for automatic vision guidance of the sampling, sample deposition, and sample container pickup and precision placement into the ascender. The PolyU-designed and -manufactured flight units also included a primary sealing and packaging system that consisted of a sample container and its sealing mechanism.
The sampling process started with the near-field cameras mounted on the robotic arm next to Samplers A and B. These cameras guided the sampling and subsequent deposition into the PolyU sample container in the primary sealing and packaging system. Upon completion of the sampling process, the sample container was sealed by the sealing and packaging device for pick-up by the sampler, which was vision-guided by the near-field cameras for automatic precision insertion into the ascender and transport back to Earth.
On the other hand, with approval from the Lunar Sample Management Office under the China National Space Administration’s Lunar Exploration and Space Engineering Centre, the PolyU team obtained two distinct lunar soil samples collected in Chang’e-5 mission: a surface soil sample weighing 400 milligrams, which was collected by the Surface Sampling and Packing System, and a subsurface soil sample weighing 42.6 milligrams. The samples are currently stored on the PolyU campus in the lunar regolith storage and analysis system, which is a unique state-of-the-art integrated multifunctional system for in-situ analysis. Researchers will thus be able to comprehensively study the lunar regolith without needing to leave the storage environment.
The Chang’e-5 lunar sample in-depth analysis and research programme is being conducted by a team led by Prof. Yung and Prof. WU Bo, Associate Director of RCDSE. The research team also includes Dr WANG Xing, Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics (LSGI), and Dr Sergey KRASILNIKOV, Research Assistant Professor in the same department.
The team will delve into “Finding Water in Lunar Soil” through a microstructural analysis of lunar regolith, including its water content and formation process. The findings will provide insight into the formation of soil on the surface of the Moon and other celestial bodies, as well as lunar water resources induced by solar wind implantation.
The lunar soil samples are rare and scientifically valuable, holding immense potential for pioneering scientific discoveries and future utilisation of lunar resources. A single grain of lunar soil may hold the key to the mysteries of the Moon’s formation, evolution, and dynamic environment. The achievements of lunar sample research can also bring long-term benefits to Earth and humankind.
