Hongkongers get ‘rare opportunity’ to examine lunar soil collected by China’s Chang’e 5 probe last year
- Samples were taken by robotic arm co-developed by researchers from Polytechnic University
- Probe’s 23-day mission made China only third country in history to collect samples from moon’s surface
Hong Kong residents hoping to catch a glimpse of the first soil samples collected from the moon in 44 years flocked to an exhibition showcasing China’s national space programme that opened on Sunday.
Visitors had to wait in line for at least 20 minutes at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai before entering a separate display room where the lunar soil collected by the Chang’e 5 probe was displayed.
“This is a really rare opportunity. There are few countries that have managed to bring back samples from the moon, and China is one of them,” accountant Edward Chan said.
“I was especially curious and wanted to see the moon soil sample … but it was a much smaller portion than I expected.”
Chan, 48, said it was difficult to see the sample clearly as it was enclosed within a disk and suspended in a glass globe, which was then placed within another glass box.
“I was slightly disappointed. If there had been staff around to explain where the sample had been taken from and what kind of elements are in it, that would have been better,” he said.