Hong Kong’s technology research and development made significant contributions to the nation’s Chang'e-4 lunar exploration. An advanced Camera Pointing System (CPS) and an innovative lunar topographic mapping and geomorphological analysis technique developed by Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) supported the Chang'e-4 probe to achieve the world’s first landing on the far side of the moon and send back the first-ever close-up picture of it.

This historic mission was supported by Dr Wu Bo, PolyU’s Associate Professor of the Department of Land Surveying and Geo-Informatics, and his specialist team. Dr Wu led a research project titled "Chang'e-4 Landing Site – Topographic and Geomorphological Characterisation and Analysis". The team amassed an extensive amount of lunar remote sensing data to create high-precision topographic models at the potential landing region for the Chang'e-4. Coupled with sophisticated analysis of geological features, the team put forward an evidence-based proposal of possible landing sites, which was crucial for this first-of-its-kind mission on the far side of the moon.

Another expert team led by Prof Yung Kai-leung, PolyU’s Associate Head of the Department of Industrial and System Engineering, developed the CPS that was mounted on the upper part of the lander of Chang’e-4 for capturing images of the moon as well as directing movement of the lunar rover. This state-of-the-art tool is able to withstand vast temperature differences in space and function in the moon’s gravity. Manufactured delicately in PolyU’s Industrial Centre, the CPS is the first Hong Kong-developed and locally made instrument to be deployed for the nation’s lunar exploration programme since its launch in 2007.

Moving forward, the two expert teams will continue to make their contributions to the nation's space exploration programmes such as Chang’e-5 and the nation’s first mission to Mars.