PolyU Deep Space Researchers Featured in NPC Two Sessions Coverage — Documentary Highlights Lion Rock Spirit in Space Exploration
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PolyU Deep Space Researchers Featured During China’s Two Sessions
On March 5, 2026, the Fourth Session of the 14th National People’s Congress opened in Beijing. The Government Work Report highlighted the imperative to accelerate high-level science and technology self-reliance, strengthen indigenous innovation capabilities, and promote the spirit of scientists — a call that resonates deeply with the research community at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU).
The documentary series “Young People Under Lion Rock” — episode “Extremes” — has put the spotlight on PolyU researchers who are pushing the boundaries of deep space exploration. The two-part documentary showcases how PolyU scientists embody the Lion Rock spirit through perseverance, rigorous pursuit of truth, and bold innovation.
Part I: Pioneers Charting the Stars
The first episode features three trailblazers in deep space exploration at PolyU — Prof. Yung Kai-leung (容启亮), Prof. Wu Bo (吴波), and Prof. Liu Shuping (刘树平) — whose decades of dedication exemplify the scientist’s spirit in the new era.
Part II: Dreambuilders Laying the Foundation
The second episode turns to the next generation of PolyU researchers who are translating science fiction into engineering reality:
Prof. Zhao Qi (赵奇) — Rock Mechanics & Lunar Regolith Research Prof. Zhao’s team studies both real lunar soil (returned by Chang’e missions) and lunar simulants using advanced 3D CT scanning and mechanical testing. Their work provides the foundational “geological manual” for understanding the Moon’s surface — essential knowledge for any future lunar base construction.
Prof. Cai Songlin (蔡松霖) — Microbiology in Space Environments Prof. Cai’s laboratory functions as a “life safety checkpoint” for deep space. The team investigates how microorganisms behave under microgravity, exploring whether the organisms astronauts inevitably carry could mutate into hazards — or potentially become useful allies — on the Moon and beyond.
Prof. Weng Yiwei (翁毅伟) — In-Situ Lunar Construction Materials With the cost of transporting materials from Earth to the Moon reaching tens of thousands of US dollars per kilogram, Prof. Weng’s team developed an improved Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) technique to convert raw lunar regolith into construction bricks on-site. These bricks can withstand space radiation and micrometeorite impacts, enabling the construction and assembly of functional lunar habitats for living, research, and other activities.
Prof. Weisong Wen (文伟松) — Intelligent Deep Space Robotics Prof. Wen envisions a three-stage roadmap for deep space robotics:
- Reliable robotic platforms — developing intelligent robotic systems capable of performing designated tasks on the lunar surface.
- Earth-Moon communication networks — building the infrastructure for real-time data exchange between robots, lunar bases, and Earth (“One day, the Moon will have GPS just like Earth”).
- Autonomous intelligence — equipping robots with self-perception, decision-making, and self-repair capabilities, transforming them from command-following tools into truly autonomous agents.
Prof. Wen’s vision extends well beyond making robots more reliable — he is creating a comprehensive “growth manual” for lunar robotics, where future robots may also provide companionship and emotional support for astronauts, much like the robots in Interstellar.
Lion Rock Spirit in the New Era
These researchers are the dreambuilders of deep space — proving that the most inspiring visions of the future are not drawn from imagination alone, but constructed through countless experiments, calculations, and iterations. The Lion Rock spirit lives on in every unextinguished lab light, every decoded lunar soil sample, and every recalibrated trajectory into the unknown.
Their stories are a testament to how Hong Kong wisdom and PolyU innovation are contributing to China’s grand ambitions in space exploration.
🔗 Original Article (Chinese): 香港理工大学 — 两会热点！理大深空造梦者实践科学家精神