The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has just signed an agreement with the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST) to set up a joint laboratory in Mechanics and Space Environment Engineering. This follows other agreements for a joint laboratory in Precision Engineering for Space Applications and collaboration on the development of a space tool to collect lunar rock samples.
Through the agreement PolyU will be able to tap into the capabilities of China’s largest and most important player in the national Chinese space program, as CAST is the main research and engineering base for responsible for the development and operation of various spacecraft and ground equipment. At the same time, CAST will benefit from the participation of various experts of the department of Mechanical Engineering and the department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, most notably Professor Yung Kai-Lung. He has been appointed by the China National Space Administration as an expert member for the third phase of China’s lunar exploration program, a sample return mission.
More background information in PolyU’s media release.