Chang’e-6 team wins IAF World Space Award with PolyU-developed space payloads supporting lunar far side sampling mission

At the opening ceremony of the 76th International Astronautical Congress in Sydney, the China National Space Administration’s Chang’e-6 team was awarded the prestigious World Space Award 2025 by the International Astronautical Federation (IAF). The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) developed critical engineering payloads for the Nation’s Chang’e-6 mission, contributing to the world’s first lunar far side sampling. As part of the team, the University is deeply honoured to have been instrumental in this historic achievement. PolyU was also recognised with the IAF Excellence in 3G+ Diversity Award, becoming the first higher education institution in China and the East Asia region to receive this distinction—underscoring its achievements in fostering diversity and inclusion in the aerospace sector.

The World Space Award is one of the highest honours in the field of international astronautics, often regarded as the “Oscar of Space”. Previously, China’s Chang’e-4 mission team and the Tianwen-1 probe development team received the same award in 2020 and 2022, respectively. This award to the Chang’e-6 mission team once again signifies China’s leading position in space exploration.

Led by Prof. YUNG Kai-leung, Sir Sze-yuen Chung Professor in Precision Engineering, Chair Professor of Precision Engineering and Associate Head of the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, and Director of the Research Centre for Deep Space Explorations, the PolyU research team collaborated closely with the China Academy of Space Technology to develop the “Surface Sampling and Packing System” for the Chang’e-6 mission, and was involved in the design and manufacturing of key instruments. PolyU was the only Hong Kong university to have its in-house critical payloads aboard Chang’e-6. The System successfully soft-landed on the far side of the moon in 2024 and completed fully automated surface sampling and packaging tasks, achieving the historic feat of collecting samples from the lunar far side for the first time.

Meanwhile, the IAF Excellence in 3G+ Diversity Award conferred upon PolyU recognises the University’s commitment to the values of diversity, equity and inclusion, and its outstanding performance in promoting geography, generation and gender diversity within the aerospace sector.

Prof. Christopher CHAO, PolyU Senior Vice President (Research and Innovation), said, “PolyU takes great pride in supporting the national aerospace team in achieving international accolades, and we are honoured to have received the 3G+ Diversity Award. This not only affirms the University’s research capabilities but also recognises its commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion. PolyU will continue to dedicate itself to innovative research and nurturing diverse talents, contributing to Hong Kong, the Nation and the global community.”

PolyU has actively participated in the national space exploration programme since 2010, providing key technologies for the Chang’e-3, Chang’e-4, Chang’e-5, and Chang’e-6 lunar missions and the Tianwen-1 Mars mission. In recent years, PolyU established the "Research Centre for Deep Space Explorations" to further advance space research.

Since joining IAF in 2023, PolyU has been an active contributor to the International Astronautical Congress. This year, the University proudly presented nine cutting-edge space research projects, spanning low-Earth orbit navigation, planetary remote sensing, spacecraft fire suppression systems, advanced spacesuit design, and an AI-driven satellite imagery localization start-up founded by two of our international undergraduate students. PolyU remains committed to aerospace research and innovation, with the aim of contributing to national space exploration and development.

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