Into the far side of the moon, developing Macau beyond gaming within GBA’s development plan

The State Key Laboratory of Lunar and Planetary Science (SKLPlanets) at the Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST) was officially established in 2018 with the approval of the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China. The SKLPlanets focuses on three research directions: the study of planetary environment and habitability, planetary formation and evolution, and space/surface exploration.

The establishment of the SKLPlanets is part of the promotion of technological innovation within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and the promotion of the science and technology sectors in Macau.

In the past, SKLPlanets has undertaken several basic research projects in lunar and planetary science and achieved significant results. In 2020, the research project “Study of Surface Features and Internal Structures of the Moon, Asteroids, and Gas Giant Planets” won the first prize in the Natural Science Award of Macau Science and Technology Awards. In 2022, the research project “Scientific Discoveries in the Study of Lunar and Martian Surface Environments” won the second prize in the Natural Science Award of Macau Science and Technology Awards.

Chair Professor Zong Qiugang

Chair Professor Zong Qiugang serves as the director of the SKLPlanets and this week gave an exclusive interview to Macau Daily Times to further elaborate on the laboratory’s work with the uncrewed rocket carrying the Chang’e-6 probe that launched from Wenchang Space Launch Center, Hainan last week.

“The goal of the Chang’e-6 probe is to go to the far side of the moon, collect samples, and return. There are several technical challenges we face, with the first one being communication. In the past, we didn’t have direct contact with the far side, because the moon is tidally locked to the Earth. On the far side of the moon, we don’t have any way to communicate between Earth and the probe,” Professor Zong said.

“The reason why we chose to land on the far side of the moon is due to the far side having much more craters, as they impact more frequently on the far side. Additionally, because it is a lot colder, that side preserves a lot of water, all of which can provide information on how the moon was formed, and also maybe information about the Earth,” he added.

To overcome communication limitations, the professor said, “we first had to establish a communication system using satellites as a bridge to relay signals. Then we can control the spacecraft, finally making the landing on the far side of the moon possible. So, if we don’t have that kind of system, it would be an impossible mission.”

In terms of the role of SKLPlanets, it serves as a key laboratory of lunar and planetary science, conducting research related to the moon, the solar system, and space exploration. They focus on data collection about the lunar and planetary environment, the formation and evolution of planets and moons. The director emphasized that their work has two main focal points; conducting research on space exploration and development of hardware for Chinese spacecraft missions.

“As you may know, last year we launched the Macau Science 1 satellite and got almost one year’s data collection,” Professor Zong highlighted. “This data is very high quality and can help us actually to form a paper on space exploration and we are planning to publish two volumes of paper on Chinese science journals.”

Another direction they are focusing on is the development of science payloads and hardware for future Chinese spacecraft missions such as Chang’e-7 or 8 “and maybe even the Tianwen series that go to Mars and even Jupiter.”

In addition to their research endeavors, SKLPlanets aims to foster top-tier talents in planetary sciences, build a globally competitive research team, and contribute to Macau’s technological advancement through diversified development.

They participate in major national deep space exploration projects and provide scientific support. The director believes that their program has positively impacted Macau by demonstrating its potential in the field of science and technology, showcasing its ability to conduct high-quality research and develop advanced instruments.

The MUST professor was adamant about the fundamental role his lab plays in the context of Macau, its economic diversification, and its integration in the overall GBA’s technological innovation and development plans.

“We have demonstrated that Macau is not only for gambling, but also we could do serious science. The program wanted to show we have the capability, we have the interest to do the science and technology and we can help the international scientific community conduct interplanetary research.”

SKLPlanets has cemented itself as a vital hub for lunar and planetary research, with its focus on studying planetary environments, formation and evolution, and development of science payloads for future spacecraft missions to showcase Macau’s capabilities beyond its gambling reputation by contributing to the international scientific community. Interview by Howard Tong