The nation places great importance on its aerospace sector. In his latest Policy Address, the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong SAR, John LEE Ka-chiu, mentioned that the “Innovation and Technology Support Programme Special Call on Aerospace Technology” has allocated over HK$100 million to support six university research and development projects, two of which are from PolyU. The supported aerospace technology R&D projects are expected to be applied in future missions such as Chang’e 7, the Tiangong space station and manned lunar landings.
Ir Prof. YUNG Kai-leung, Sir Sze-yuen Chung Professor in Precision Engineering and Director of the Research Centre for Deep Space Explorations (RCDSE), has been awarded HK$32 million to carry out the project “Key Space Technology Capability Research and Development with Application to Terrain Cameras”. This project will build upon PolyU’s successful experience in the Chang’e 3, 4, 5, and 6, as well as Tianwen-1 missions, to develop next-generation space navigation cameras and related technologies. The team will develop new materials and processes with high strength-to-weight ratios, high thermal conductivity, and controllable absorptivity, reflectivity, emissivity and refractive index. The research will also focus on radiation resistance and chemical compatibility in the space environment and key manufacturing technologies such as void-free 3D printing. In addition, the team will explore core technologies related to image capture and processing, including thermal modelling for maintaining neutral optical performance under extreme temperature fluctuations and artificial intelligence algorithms for terrain recognition to aid navigation on the lunar surface under varying sunlight angles.
Furthermore, Ir Prof. SU Zhongqing, Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Chair Professor of Intelligent Structures and Systems, and Member of RCDSE, has also been awarded over HK$4.4 million to carry out the project “A ‘Totally-Additive-Manufacturing’-driven New Sensing Technique for Rapid Health Evaluation of Space Systems under Hypervelocity Impact of Orbital Junks”. The project is conducted in collaboration with co-investigators from Beijing Institute of Spacecraft Environment Engineering of China Academy of Space Technology and Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen). The successful installation of this system and the implementation of the technology on spacecraft will mitigate the risk of hypervelocity impact (HVI) from space debris to communication satellites and space stations. Additionally, it will retrofit existing safety design philosophy, enhance serviceability and extend the lifespan of long-service space systems.
The nation has designated “commercial aerospace” as a strategic emerging industry. PolyU will continue to leverage its professional strengths to actively support the Hong Kong SAR Government in promoting the development of aerospace technology, contributing to the vigorous growth of the space economy.
Online coverage:
Wen Wei Po - https://polyu.me/3K2RlN8
Lion Rock Daily - https://polyu.me/42y9Oax
Bauhinia - https://polyu.me/4ncDBOg
ifeng.com - https://polyu.me/47S7grl
Further readings:
Ir Prof. Yung’s project - https://polyu.hk/dXYVP
Ir Prof. Su’s project - https://polyu.hk/hONCU
| Research Units | Research Centre for Deep Space Explorations |
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