Hong Kong-Built MUSICO Device Operating Successfully on Tiangong Space Station
SCMP · 1 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
A groundbreaking greenhouse gas monitoring instrument developed in Hong Kong is now operational aboard China's Tiangong space station. The Multi-Spectral Imaging Carbon Observatory, known as MUSICO, was built by scientists at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology with funding from the Hong Kong government. Sun Dong, the city's Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industries, announced that all four sensors aboard the device are functioning well and have successfully captured high-quality images of Earth's atmosphere .
Key Points
- MUSICO was developed by a team at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and funded by the Hong Kong government's Innovation and Technology Support Programme
- The device weighs less than a domestic washing machine yet can accurately detect individual greenhouse gas emission sources on Earth
- Four sensors onboard MUSICO detect carbon dioxide, methane, oxygen and aerosols, making it the world's first lightweight, high-precision synergistic observatory for the two gases
- Hong Kong's first astronaut Lai Ka-ying has been aboard the space station for approximately three months, conducting experiments alongside her crewmates
- Five additional aerospace technology projects from PolyU, HKU, CityU and CUHK also received government funding under the special call programme
Why It Matters
The successful deployment of MUSICO positions Hong Kong as a meaningful contributor to global climate monitoring efforts. The device will provide automatic, controllable and highly accurate greenhouse gas emission data over the coming two years or longer, supporting worldwide responses to climate change and sustainable development goals . This achievement also demonstrates Hong Kong's growing capabilities in advanced aerospace technology and scientific research, with implications for future collaboration with mainland China's space programme.
The successful deployment of MUSICO positions Hong Kong as a meaningful contributor to global climate monitoring efforts. The device will provide automatic, controllable and highly accurate greenhouse gas emission data over the coming two years or longer, supporting worldwide responses to climate change and sustainable development goals . This achievement also demonstrates Hong Kong's growing capabilities in advanced aerospace technology and scientific research, with implications for future collaboration with mainland China's space programme.