PolyU team: "Satisfied, excited, happy!"
17 December 2020
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) research team developed the Chang'e 5 "Surface Sampling and Packing System" for lunar surface sampling, packaging and sealing. Consisting of two samplers for collecting loose and sticky forms of lunar regolith, two near-field cameras, as well as a packaging and sealing system, the "Surface Sampling and Packing System" has more than 400 components constructed in different materials which make the instruments light in weight but at the same time durable and strong enough to withstand the harsh space environment. Yung Kai-leung, Chair Professor of Precision Engineering and Associate Head of Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering of PolyU, who led the research team, told media after the landing that he is: "Satisfied, excited, happy!"
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China to encourage international lunar cooperation - considers Moon samples as the mutual wealth of humanity
17 December 2020
China will invite more scientists from around the world to join in Moon research in a bid to achieve more scientific results, according to Wu Yanhua, Vice Administrator of China National Space Administration (CNSA). China will solicit cooperation proposals extensively per the regulations on the management of lunar samples and data, said Wu Yanhua, said during a press conference on 17 December. "Moon samples are the mutual wealth of humanity, and we are willing to cooperate with our international counterparts on an equal and mutually beneficial basis," Xu Hongliang, a CNSA spokesperson said.
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China to share access to Moon 'treasures' with others
4 human space mission in the pipeline
17 December 2020
China plans to launch 4 manned spacecraft as part of its space station construction program in the next two years Wu Yanhua, Vice Administrator of China National Space Administration (CNSA), said at a press conference on China's Chang'e 5 lunar mission. In total 11 missions to build China's space station are planned for the next two years.
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Mission operations extended for Wukong
17 December 2020
China's Dark Matter Particle Explorer "Wukong" will extend its mission in space by another year, as it is still functioning well after 5 years of service. The satellite was launched in December 2015 as China's first dark matter probe satellite and originally designed to serve in space for 3 years, but its operators decided at the end of 2018 to extend its service life by 2 years. Chang Jin, an Academician with the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and Chief Scientist of the Wukong project, said the satellite's latest mission extension was greenlighted by the National Space Science Center after an evaluation of its current condition.
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