HKU and ILOA Join Forces for Chang'e-7 Moon Lander Mission Set for 2026

Written by Copernical Team Sunday, 14 July 2024 21:03

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Sydney, Australia (SPX) Jul 15, 2024

The Laboratory for Space Research at The University of Hong Kong (HKU-LSR) has signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with the International Lunar Observatory Association Hawai'i (ILOA) on May 16, 2024, marking a partnership to participate in the ILOA-led Chang'e 7 lunar mission. This mission features a small, wide-field optical telescope named ILO-C. The HKU-LSR telescope design has been selected, and

HKU and ILOA Join Forces for Chang'e-7 Moon Lander Mission Set for 2026
by Simon Mansfield
Sydney, Australia (SPX) Jul 15, 2024

The Laboratory for Space Research at The University of Hong Kong (HKU-LSR) has signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with the International Lunar Observatory Association Hawai'i (ILOA) on May 16, 2024, marking a partnership to participate in the ILOA-led Chang'e 7 lunar mission. This mission features a small, wide-field optical telescope named ILO-C. The HKU-LSR telescope design has been selected, and development is underway. The ILO-C telescope will be installed on the Chang'E-7 lunar lander, set to launch in 2026.

On June 14, a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in Beijing to solidify broader cooperation in lunar exploration and education. Steve Durst, Founding Director of ILOA Hawai'i, signed the MoU with Professor Quentin Parker, Director of HKU-LSR. Suijian Xue, Group Leader of Sky Survey from the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (NAOC), and the National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT) joined the MoU as observers, intending to expand future collaboration.

The ILOA-HKU partnership aims to create a cost-effective, small wide-field telescope camera for the Chang'E-7 mission, focusing on functionality and scientific capability for imaging the Milky Way and the Galaxy center from the Moon.

Steve Durst of ILOA stated, "The ILO-C payload aboard China's Chang'E-7 lander seeks to advance Galaxy imaging, 21st Century Astronomy/Science from the Moon and precursor proof-of-concept development for the ILO-1 flagship mission to Malapert Summit. ILOA, in cooperation with long-time partner NAOC and new collaborator HKU, sees ILO-C as a historic first and advance for the America-China-International Moon cooperation. Also notable, the projected 2026 Chang'E-7 landing area Shackleton Rim is a leading site consideration for the USA Artemis 3 mission attempt to land the first woman and others on the Moon, as early as 2026."

Professor Suijian Xue from NAOC commented, "I am very pleased with the collaborative efforts from HKU-LSR in developing and operating the ILO-C instrument aboard the Chang'E-7 Moon Lander. I greatly appreciate the LSR team's professional diligence and the innovative design solution for the camera, which serves both Galaxy / Astronomy Imaging and 21st Century Science and Education. This collaboration will significantly strengthen the long-term partnership between NAOC, ILOA and now HKU."

Professor Quentin Parker added, "Thanks to an exceptional combined leadership, design and engineering team across the two organizations, and with a true spirit of international collaboration, HKU and the LSR are very proud to be equal partners in this lunar mission for science and education with ILOA. We are particularly honored that our wide-field optical design has been chosen for the ILO-C camera on the Chang'E-7 lunar lander."

Finally, Professor Max Shen, Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) of HKU, expressed his excitement about this collaboration, "The Laboratory for Space Research at HKU has once again distinguished itself on the global stage through its selection as an equal partner in the ILO-C Chang'e 7 moon mission. This opportunity is a testament to the calibre of our University's unwavering dedication to international collaboration in pursuing lunar exploration and discovery. We are honoured to work alongside our esteemed counterparts, and I have every confidence that this synergistic partnership will yield significant scientific outcomes that will inspire generations to come."