Be My Guest | Growing together with China's lunar exploration programs: Young HKU geologist calls for joint effort to 'reach for the moon'
In January 2004, the first phase of the Chang'e Program was officially approved. In 2013, spacecraft Chang'e-3 landed on the moon, marking the first time that China had sent a spacecraft to soft land on the surface of an extraterrestrial body.
It was also in 2013 that Dr. Qian Yuqi entered China University of Geosciences to pursue a degree in geology. The enthusiastic research atmosphere around Chang'e-3 at the university sparked his deep interest in lunar studies and made him realize that China's lunar missions were not distant from him. After obtaining his PhD in planetary geology, Dr. Qian joined the Laboratory for Space Research at the University of Hong Kong as a postdoctoral researcher. His contributions to Chang'e Program include significant advancements in the geological characteristics of landing sites, research on simulated lunar soil, and analysis of returned lunar samples.
In April 2023, Dr. Qian, representing HKU, submitted a research proposal to the China National Space Administration (CNSA) to apply for lunar soil samples. The proposal was approved in June of the same year, making him the first researcher in Hong Kong to bring Chang'e-5 samples back to the city. Dr. Qian was thrilled, believing this would further advance planetary science research in Hong Kong. He is confident that by reconstructing the geological and volcanic history of the Chang'e-5 landing region, conducting in-depth analyses of the provenance of lunar soils at the Chang'e-5 landing sites, and linking remote sensing data to sample studies, the outcome of the Chang'e-5 mission can be maximized.
"Those lunar samples are super precious and are also entertaining," Dr. Qian described the lunar samples as "powder-like" and challenging to handle, requiring utmost care during experiments. However, these challenges do not diminish the significance and value of the research in the slightest.
Dr. Qian believes that China's lunar exploration programs are not out of reach. They involve not only geologists and astronomers but also the participation of doctors, lawyers, and people from all walks of life. "We need some lawyers to make policies for space cooperation, and we also need people like farmers because people always need food." The public also has plenty of opportunities to participate, as the names of China's lunar program and the lunar rover were largely generated through public voting.
Dr. Qian described himself as "growing up together" with the country's lunar programs. According to Dr. Qian, the scientists in China's space exploration team are mostly between the ages of 30 and 35, making the team young, vibrant, and full of innovation. He also believes that China's space missions are not only ambitious but also very well-planned and well-operated. "Chinese space missions, every one of them is successful. It makes every Chinese citizen very proud of it."
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