AI-generated image illustrating what the HKU Chang'e-7 lunar lander wide-field telescope camera may observe in November 2027.
“Only by building trust through international cooperation and working together can we achieve
breakthroughs in space exploration.”
— Professor Quentin PARKER, Director, Laboratory for Space Research
Professor Quentin Parker, Director of Laboratory for
Space Research
Space science today is defined not only by discovery, but by delivery. As exploration extends beyond observation to sustained presence, modern space research demands far more than curiosity and insight. It requires integration into complex mission architectures, the ability to operate across borders, and a reputation built on reliability, openness, and trust.
At HKU, the Laboratory for Space Research (LSR) has evolved precisely along this trajectory. From its origins in fundamental astrophysics, the Laboratory is now embedded in major space missions, international scientific infrastructure, and policy-relevant dialogue.
A Platform Trusted by the Global Community
Keynote speaker Professor Brian SCHMIDT, 2011 Nobel Laureate in Physics, 2006 Shaw Prize Laureate in Astronomy, and President-elect of the IAU. | In a field defined by collaboration, credibility is measured not by visibility alone but by peers’ confidence. LSR’s standing as a trusted international partner was clearly demonstrated when it hosted the 7th China-Chile Bilateral Conference for Astronomy in January 2026, followed shortly by the Asia-Pacific Regional IAU Meeting (APRIM) in early May 2026. As one of the largest gatherings under the auspices of the International Astronomical Union (IAU), APRIM brought together leading scientists, policymakers, and industry participants from more than 40 countries across the Asia Pacific, including Nobel, Shaw and Gruber Cosmology Prize laureates, to explore developments in astrophysics, deep space exploration, and the emerging space economy, with space sustainability featured as a dedicated parallel meeting. More than a scientific conference, APRIM served as a “vote of confidence” in Hong Kong and HKU-LSR as an effective, neutral and reliable venue for international scientific engagement, reinforcing LSR’s role as a place where global conversations can unfold with openness, rigour and mutual trust. |
The distribution of satellites and space debris in Low Earth Orbit. Objects are shown greatly enlarged to visualise their locations;
in reality, most are far smaller. Image provided by Dr Andy Chung To KONG
Embedded in Space Missions
LSR’s ambitions have also extended to involvement in a range of international space missions. Through a partnership with the International Lunar Observatory Association (ILOA) in Hawaii , it contributed critical design expertise and principal funding for a wide-field optical telescope built by the Beijing Institute of Space Mechanics and Electricity (BIMSE). Scheduled for deployment near Shackleton Crater at the lunar south pole aboard the Chang’e-7 mission in November 2026, the instrument will conduct astronomical observations from a highly advantageous vantage point.
LSR has also been selected as a coprincipal investigator organisation for an international payload on the Tianwen-3 Mars Sample Return mission, working alongside partners from COSPAR in France and Shenzhen University. These roles reflect recognition that LSR can integrate seamlessly into complex, multi-partner missions and contribute effectively under demanding conditions.
Infrastructure for the Ages
Sustained scientific impact also depends on durable research infrastructure. A defining example is the Hong Kong/ AAO/ Strasbourg Hα Planetary Nebula Database (HASH), developed in collaboration with international partners and hosted by LSR, now used by more than 1,200 researchers in over 60 countries.
To ensure its permanence, the database is being integrated into the Centre de Données astronomiques de Strasbourg (CDS), the world’s premier astronomical data system. By embedding this resource within a permanent global framework, LSR ensures that its commitment to open science will serve generations of explorers yet to come.
Where Science Meets Society
As space activity accelerates worldwide, scientific questions increasingly intersect with sustainability, governance and economic development. In response, LSR has convened international discussions on space sustainability and orbital debris, examining risks that could shape the future of space exploration itself.
LSR has also engaged in dialogue on the emerging aerospace and NewSpace economy, exploring how Hong Kong’s strengths in professional services, finance and international connectivity can complement scientific and technological advances, in alignment with China’s strategic national priorities. A recent policy workshop co-organised by LSR brought together leaders from industry and academia, resulting in a series of recommendations to the HKSAR Government on positioning Hong Kong within the global space economy.
“I think Hong Kong has an ace card in the NewSpace economy,” Parker observes. “Its role is not in building satellites, but in acting as a scientific and mission connector. China is emerging as a major space science power, and these activities, many of them of strong public interest, are driving technological innovation at the highest levels of our universities.”
A Global Outlook
The trajectory of the LSR is clear. Through mission leadership, enduring data infrastructure, large-scale international engagement and policy dialogue, LSR exemplifies an outward-looking, trusted and operationally grounded model. As Parker put it simply, “Our role is to provide services to this global endeavour—to act as an international super connector and reach out to the world.”
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The ILO-C small wide-field telescope, developed by HKU LSR and ILOA, will capture images of the Galactic plane from the Moon on the Chang’e-7 mission. | CubeSat prototype. A 1U CubeSat is a standard 10 × 10 × 10 cm miniature satellite capable of carrying payloads such as cameras and other sensors for space exploration. Prototype created by Dr Andy Chung To Kong, LSR. |
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