Hong Kong-developed greenhouse gas monitor begins operation on China's Tiangong space station

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.”