News & Stories
2026
News
HKUST‑Developed MUSICO Begins In‑Orbit Operations on the Tiangong Space Station (Chinese Version Only)
香港科技大學(科大)牽頭研製的全球首款輕小型、高分辨率、高精度二氧化碳(CO₂)與甲烷(CH₄)點源協同探測儀「天韻相機」(MUSICO)日前由香港首位載荷專家黎家盈博士及另外兩位航天員在軌組裝檢測,並成功安裝於中國「天宮」太空站外指定載荷掛點位置,正式投入運作。儀器將於未來兩年或更長時間提供自主、可控且具高精準度的二氧化碳與甲烷排放監測數據。相關成果將與政府部門及科研機構共享,為應對氣候變化及推動全球可持續發展作出貢獻。 「天韻相機」項目三位負責人包括科大土木及環境工程學系講座教授蘇慧教授、土木及環境工程學系系主任兼講座教授張利民教授,以及新興跨學科領域學部副教授翟成興教授日前遠赴北京,全程觀察儀器在軌安裝過程,並參與現場關鍵節點決策和數據分析評估工作。現時,天韻相機配備的四個分別用於探測二氧化碳、甲烷、氧氣及氣溶膠的感應器均能成功拍攝影像,成像質量清晰,整體運作表現良好。團隊接著會進行在軌測試,界定數據精度,預計在兩至三個月後開啟常規運行。 蘇慧教授對儀器在太空站順利完成安裝並正式投入運作表示欣喜,並指出:「這對整個團隊而言,是一項重要的階段性成果。太空站以每秒7.7公里的速度環繞地球飛行,較地面高速鐵路快近百倍;要在如此高速運動的狀態下捕捉清晰而精準的影像,難度相當高。現時儀器運作正常穩定,對整個科研團隊是一大鼓舞,亦充分反映香港具備研製高端航天科研載荷的實力,有能力承擔國家太空站的長期科學任務。」
News
HKUST Study Finds Urbanization in the Greater Bay Area Intensifies Extreme Heat and Heavy Rainfall Risks
In recent years, Hong Kong has experienced repeated episodes of intense rainfall that left significant impacts on social operations, including the “once‑in‑a‑century” rainstorm in September 2023, the exceptionally heavy rain in May 2024, and a series of Black Rainstorm events in early August 2025. These extreme weather events have not only disrupted residents’ daily travel and public infrastructure but have also highlighted the challenges faced by high‑density coastal cities in coping with extreme weather.
News
HKUST Faculty and Students Gather on Campus to Celebrate the Successful Launch of the Shenzhou‑23 Manned Spacecraft (Chinese Version Only)
神舟二十三號載人飛船順利升空,並首次有香港載荷專家參與國家航天任務,為香港航天發展譜寫嶄新篇章。為見證這歷史性時刻,香港科技大學(科大)約50名師生今日齊聚校園,共同觀看電視直播,現場氣氛熱烈高漲。當火箭騰飛一刻,師生們紛紛報以熱烈掌聲及歡呼,對能夠同步見證國家航天任務圓滿成功,均感到無比激動與自豪。 近年來,科大科研團隊積極及深度參與國家航天任務。在現場觀看直播的師生之中,不少亦曾參與由科大團隊牽頭研製的全球首款輕小型、高分辨率、高精度二氧化碳與甲烷點源協同探測儀——「天韻相機」(MUSICO)項目。該項目由多位科大教授領導,包括科大土木及環境工程學系講座教授蘇慧教授、土木及環境工程學系系主任兼講座教授張利民教授,以及新興跨學科領域學部副教授翟成興教授。 曾於美國太空總署(NASA)任職長達17年的大氣科學專家蘇慧教授表示:「看到火箭順利升空,大家心情都無比激動,難以言喻。航天任務從研發到發射,每一個環節都需要大量專家與科研人員傾注心力,付出巨大努力;當中涉及的技術攻關與嚴謹測試,確實不計其數。我們亦特別為今次有來自香港的載荷專家參與其中而深感自豪,衷心祝願她在天宮太空站上各項任務圓滿成功。」
News
HKUST Congratulates First Hong Kong Payload Specialist Selected for Shenzhou‑23 Crew
The China Manned Space Agency today announced the crew of the Shenzhou-23 mission, which includes Dr. LAI Ka-Ying, a payload specialist from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). Dr. Lai will embark on a mission aboard the Tiangong Space Station. The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) extends its warmest congratulations and expresses profound pride and excitement at this historic moment.
News
World’s First Lightweight High Resolution High Precision CO₂ and CH₄ Point Source Detector “MUSICO” Arrives at Tiangong Space Station via Tianzhou-10
The world’s first lightweight, high‑resolution, high‑precision synergistic observatory for carbon dioxide (CO₂) and methane (CH₄) emission point sources – named “MUSICO”, Multi‑Spectral Imaging Carbon Observatory, led by The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) – was successfully launched aboard the Tianzhou‑10 cargo spacecraft on May 11 and has arrived at China’s Tiangong Space Station. This is not only Hong Kong’s first scientific payload deployed on the national space station, but also a historic breakthrough for the city in the development of high‑end aerospace instruments. The project fully demonstrates Hong Kong’s strong capability to build national‑level cutting-edge scientific payloads, to participate in long‑term space station missions, and to play a key role in addressing global climate change while serving the nation’s strategic “carbon peak and carbon neutrality” goals.
News
HKUST Achieves Outstanding Results in the Third Round of the RAISe+ Scheme
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has once again achieved strong results under the Research, Academic and Industry Sectors One‑Plus (RAISe+) Scheme launched by the Innovation and Technology Commission. In the third round of funding, seven HKUST research projects have been recommended for funding, accounting for nearly one-third of all approved projects in this round. Together with the first two rounds, HKUST has now secured a total of 19 funded projects, the highest number among local universities, underscoring its leading role in translating research outcomes into real-world applications and in advancing industry-academia-research collaboration.
News
HKUST Secures Dual UNESCO Endorsements for Two International Deep-Sea Research Programs
Two international deep-sea research initiatives, led by the Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Guangzhou) (GML) with significant contributions from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), have received official endorsement from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Both initiatives are designed to address critical gaps in climate science by investigating seabed methane seeps' role in global warming and exploring biodiversity in extreme deep-sea ecosystems. The two programs are poised to strengthen global collaboration and deliver scientific insights essential for tackling future climate challenges.
News
HKUST Researchers Reveal How Tropical Pacific Climate Shifts Amplify Arctic Sea‑Ice Melt
Led by scholars from The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), a research team has discovered that, since the early 2000s, both sea surface temperature changes near the equator and the associated atmospheric adjustments over the Pacific have accelerated markedly—becoming a key driver of the increasingly rapid loss of Arctic sea ice during autumn. The findings highlight that, under ongoing global warming, climate linkages between distant regions are far more dynamic and complex than previously understood.