Scheduled for launch around 2028, Chang’E 8 is a cornerstone project of China’s fourth phase lunar exploration programs. As one of the pioneering initiatives led by China to set up an international lunar research station, this project will pave the way for the establishment of a long-term unmanned facility in the lunar polar regions. Leading the international cooperation project, HKUST collaborates with experts from local, mainland and international institutions, including the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), the University of Hong Kong (HKU), the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), City University of Hong Kong (CityU), Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST), Dalian University of Technology (DUT), Shenzhen University (SZU), and the South African National Space Agency (SANSA). Together, this diverse team will push the boundaries of aerospace technology, advancing from concept and research to production, testing and system integration. The Hong Kong Space Robotics and Energy Center, funded by the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) of the Hong Kong government under the InnoHK initiative, will be established to drive this mission forward while fostering collaboration across institutions and regions.

HKUST President Prof. Nancy IP stated, “We express our heartfelt gratitude to the CNSA for their trust and the unwavering support of the HKSAR government. Leading the national lunar exploration project is a significant honor, and we are excited about the opportunities ahead. Aerospace engineering is a strategic development area at HKUST. Following the triumphant launch of Hong Kong’s first environmental remote sensing satellite from the higher education sector last August, we are now actively advancing the High-Resolution Global Greenhouse Gas Observatory project, which we anticipate will play a vital role in the Chinese Space Station in the near future. We are also proud to participate in the Chang’E 8 International Cooperation Project, which represents HKUST’s landmark involvement in deep space exploration. We are poised to harness our leading research capabilities in aerospace to significantly contribute to the national aerospace mission.”

Expected to weigh about 100 kilograms, the robot to be developed by the Hong Kong team will conduct scientific exploration, instrument deployment and installation tasks in the Moon’s harsh environment. Its mobile wireless charging capability can power up various devices on the lunar surface, boosting the efficiency of both lunar exploration and collaborative operations. Ultimately, the project will propel technology for deep space exploration and lay the groundwork for future scientific research at an international lunar research station on the Moon.

首席研究员、 机械及航空航天工程学系及香港科技大学太空科学与技术研究所所长于宏宇教授 概述了此次任务的几个重大挑战。他说：“首先，我们的机器人在进入月球南极时会遇到极低的温度。为确保其可靠的性能，使用先进的材料和温度管理系统至关重要。其次，月球上没有卫星导航，这意味着需要采用智能设计来有效解决定位、导航、自主移动和操作控制的复杂性。同时，机器人必须保持轻便，同时处理多项精密任务并充当其他月球设备的充电器。我们将利用每个团队成员的独特优势，通过采用先进的材料和制造技术优化设计，创造出一款创新的机器人。该项目将遵守中国航天质量保证机制，确保国家任务圆满完成。”

2023年10月，国家航天局发布嫦娥八号任务国际合作机会公告。科大牵头组织国际合作伙伴团队向国家航天局月球探测与航天工程中心提交提案，并于今年11月入选。为支持嫦娥八号国际合作项目并增强本地航天技术能力，香港特区政府创新科技及工业局通过创新科技署资助成立香港首个以太空为重点的创新香港研究中心。该中心由机械与电子工程系孙庆平教授担任主任，于洪 宇教授 担任联席主任，理大土地测量及地理信息学系副系主任吴波教授担任副主任。

中心主任孙教授强调：“这项计划是香港历史上一次历史性飞跃，也是同类计划中规模最大的一项。中心受托领导、由本地大学、内地机构和国际航天机构专家组成的联合团队，充分体现了国家对科大和香港航天团队在机械、航天、电子、传热、我们将把握机遇，借助香港高等教育界的科研基础和香港作为全球创新科技中心的优势，实现这一目标，将基础研究和科学创新与实际工程应用相结合，促进跨学科合作，代表为国家航天事业作出贡献。

项目主要研究人员包括香港科技大学石玲教授、段墨龙教授、香港理工大学陶小明教授、徐斌刚教授、香港大学刘涛教授、香港中文大学张伟钊教授、香港城市大学高思阳教授、上海航天科技集团有限公司总工程师张玉华、张崇锋、大连理工大学余小舟教授、深圳大学朱平教授、SANSA中心Martin SNOW博士。