We are pleased to announce that Prof. Qi Zhao, Associate Professor of CEE, for securing a grant of RMB3,670,000 under the China Space Station Application and Development Program / Space Science and Application Projects. Prof. Zhao is the first PolyU scholar to receive this type of funding associated with the China Manned Space Program. The approval of this project recognizes Professor Zhao’s previous research efforts in planetary geotechnics and reflects the alignment of this research direction with the future space science development.
Prof. Zhao’s research project, titled "Dynamics of dense granular flows under low-gravity conditions,” involves conducting the first rotating drum granular flow experiment aboard the Chinese Space Station to investigate how particles segregate, mix, and move in the granular flow under low-gravity conditions. These experiments aim to uncover the fundamental physics that shape planetary surfaces and provide engineers with the quantitative data needed to design safer landing systems and select sites for long-term bases.
Since the completion of the China Space Station in 2022, the programme has entered a new phase of application and development. As a strategic technological platform for the nation’s long-term development, the space station has carried out over 100 experiments spanning earth observation, space materials and new technology applications. For researchers, the China Space Station is not only a world-class laboratory, but also a “dream factory” where limitless possibilities can be put into practice. The approval of Professor Zhao’s project also creates a new opportunity for PolyU to further participate in the development and use of major national research platforms.
