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Ng Kang-chung

A state-of-the-art greenhouse gas monitoring instrument spearheaded by a Hong Kong university has officially commenced operations aboard China’s Tiangong space station, following its successful installation by the city’s first home-grown astronaut, Lai Ka-ying.
The Multi-Spectral Imaging Carbon Observatory (Musico) – often dubbed the “Eye for Space” – will remain in orbit for at least two years, according to Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), which led the development of the hi-tech device.
Operating about 400km above the Earth, the instrument analyses changes in the solar spectrum to accurately pinpoint sources of greenhouse gas emissions.
HKUST confirmed on Sunday that the instrument had successfully completed its final preparatory stages in orbit.
“[The device] was recently assembled and tested in orbit by Dr Lai Ka-ying, Hong Kong’s first payload specialist, and two other astronauts,” the university said.
“It was successfully installed at the designated payload attachment point on the exterior of the Tiangong space station and officially put into operation.”




Lai and two other astronauts from mainland China, Zhu Yangzhu and Zhang Zhiyuan, are on a mission aboard the space station.
Over the past week, the trio worked with ground control teams to complete the assembly, testing and spacewalk required for the installation, according to the China Manned Space Programme.
Professor Su Hui, project lead and director of the university’s space science and technology institute, described the start of Musico’s operations as an “important milestone for the entire team”.
“The fact that the instrument is now operating normally and stably is a great encouragement to the entire research team and fully reflects Hong Kong’s capability to develop high-end aerospace research payloads and undertake long-term scientific missions for the national space station,” Su said.


Su and two other core members of her institute, professors Zhang Limin and Zhai Chengxing, have been in Beijing to observe and offer assistance with the installation process, as well as to help analyse the collected data.
“[The device] is currently performing well. Its four sensors, used to detect carbon dioxide, methane, oxygen and aerosols, are all successfully capturing clear, high-quality images,” the university said.
“The team will conduct on-orbit testing to determine data accuracy. The device is expected to begin regular operation in two to three months.”
Musico was sent to the space station aboard the Tianzhou-10 cargo spacecraft in May.
Weighing about 80kg, the instrument is roughly the size of a small household washing machine. It is also described as the world’s first high-precision synergistic observatory payload.
Synergistic observations refer to the simultaneous measurement of carbon dioxide and methane concentrations above emission sources.
By analysing variations in sunlight intensity across specific spectral bands as it passes through the atmosphere and reflects off the Earth’s surface, Musico identifies gas-specific absorption features to determine gas concentrations and pinpoint individual emission sources. This enables effective monitoring of key facilities such as power plants and landfills.
The university team said data collected by Musico would be shared with the Ministry of Ecology and Environment to assist in setting national carbon reduction targets. The information will also be provided to Hong Kong’s Environmental Protection Department and the Hong Kong Observatory.


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Hong Kong’s Lai Ka-ying is the payload specialist on the mission. Photo: Handout

The three astronauts worked with ground control teams over the past week to complete the assembly, testing and spacewalk required for the installation, the China Manned Space Programme said. Photo: Handout

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University researchers pose with the Multi-Spectral Imaging Carbon Observatory they helped to develop. Photo: HKUST

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Hong Kong’s first home-grown astronaut, Lai Ka-ying, assembled and tested the Multi-Spectral Imaging Carbon Observatory


Hong Kong’s first home-grown astronaut, Lai Ka-ying, assembled and tested the Multi-Spectral Imaging Carbon Observatory.


Hong Kong-developed ‘Eye for Space’ now operating aboard Tiangong space station

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Hong Kong’s first home-grown astronaut, Lai Ka-ying, assembled and tested the Multi-Spectral Imaging Carbon Observatory

Hong Kong’s first home-grown astronaut, Lai Ka-ying, assembled and tested the Multi-Spectral Imaging Carbon Observatory