HK PolyU's pivotal role in China's historic Chang'e 6 mission to collect lunar samples from far side

A sampling device co-developed by researchers from Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has played a pivotal role in enabling China's Chang'e 6 probe to embark on an unprecedented mission to collect topsoil samples from the far side of the moon.

After two days of gathering lunar surface materials, the Chang'e 6 probe launched the sample container into lunar orbit on Tuesday. The container is set to return to Earth by the end of June, marking the first time soil samples from the moon's far side will be returned for scientific analysis.

Yung Kai-leung, head of PolyU's Research Centre for Deep Space Explorations, presented the university's contributions to the mission's core hardware - the Surface Sampling Execution Device. Developed over five years in collaboration with the China Academy of Space Technology, the device features PolyU-designed and manufactured components, including the sample-extracting prongs and a specialized close-up navigation camera.

"The camera is capable of withstanding the extreme temperatures on the lunar surface, which can exceed 120 degrees Celsius," Yung said. The team also pioneered an encapsulation system that enables fully automated sampling across multiple sites, eliminating the need for manual drilling or excavation.

Compared to previous lunar missions that focused on the near side, the Chang'e 6 expedition to the far side posed far greater challenges due to the lack of direct communication and observation from Earth. Yung's team made several critical hardware improvements to ensure the mission could be executed more efficiently.

"The topsoil collected from the moon's far side is scientifically valuable due to its heavily cratered surface and greater exposure to the solar wind," Yung explained. He expressed confidence that the Chang'e 6 probe will return with an even larger sample than the 1.73 kilograms collected by its predecessor, Chang'e 5.

PolyU Vice-President Christopher Chao Yu-hang called on the Hong Kong government to provide long-term support for local universities to develop space exploration programs and encourage related research. He believes such initiatives will also help cultivate interest in space science among the younger generation.

With over 30 years of experience in space research, PolyU has been actively involved in China's national space missions since 2010, including the Chang'e 3, 4, and 5 lunar expeditions and the Tianwen 1 Mars mission.