Prof. WU Bo, Associate Director of Research Centre for Deep Space Explorations (RCDSE), Associate Head (Research) and Fiona Cheung Professor in Spatial Science in the Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics, was featured in an interview in the China Surveying and Mapping magazine, sharing his research team’s active participation in national space missions over the years.
Since 2011, the team has been using a large amount of lunar remote sensing data to conduct topographic and geomorphological analysis of the landing sites for the “Chang’e-3” and “Chang’e-4” missions, utilising innovative lunar topographic mapping and geomorphological analysis technologies to evaluate and select safe and scientifically valuable landing sites. Since 2016, the team has been assisting relevant national space agencies with the analysis and evaluation in the “Tianwen-1” Mars exploration mission, screening possible landing sites, and conducting detailed topographic, geomorphological and geological characterisation analysis of each candidate landing sites to help select landing sites. On 15 May 2021, the “Tianwen-1” lander carrying the “Zhu Rong” rover successfully landed near the centre of the optimal landing ellipse, leaving a Chinese mark on Mars for the first time and taking an important step in the Nation’s interstellar exploration.
Prof. Wu highlighted the importance of innovation in the interview. He mentioned that in addition to the continuous innovation in traditional surveying and mapping, remote sensing, and geographic information technologies, technologies such as machine learning and deep learning have great potential in the big data, automation, and intelligent analysis in the field of deep space exploration. Moreover, real-time and chip-based surveying, mapping and remote sensing technology are also in urgent demand in the field, and further breakthroughs are needed.
To promote better public understanding of the Nation’s achievements in deep space exploration, Prof. Wu’s team developed a virtual reality system based on images and data of the lunar and Mars surface, restoring the various stages of the lunar and Mars landing process and allowing the public to experience roaming various landing sites on the lunar and Mars surface. The interactive exhibit “Moon | Mars VR” is now open to the public at the Hall of the Cosmos of the Hong Kong Space Museum.
Online coverage:
China Surveying and Mapping - https://polyu.me/3qErWQi (Chinese only)| Research Units | Research Centre for Deep Space Explorations |
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