Hong Kong's first astronaut to operate local carbon observatory in space

Hong Kong’s first astronaut will operate a locally developed observatory that monitors key sources of greenhouse gas emissions on Earth during her time aboard the Tiangong space station, the research team behind the project has said.

The imaging equipment could pinpoint the location and intensity of emissions, providing data that could be used to reduce carbon sources in the Greater Bay Area and elsewhere in mainland China, Professor Li Jia of Lingnan University said on Saturday.

Payload specialist Lai Ka-ying is part of the three-member Shenzhou-23 team that will blast off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre on Sunday and dock with the space station.

Lai, a computer data specialist, would operate the Multi-Spectral Imaging Carbon Observatory during her month-long stay, Li said.

“She has learned how to operate these experimental instruments, and I am very confident in her,” she said. “She sent me a message [on Friday] saying she would take good care of our payload.”

The payload, which arrived at the space station earlier this month, is being hailed as the world’s first light, high-resolution, high-precision space-based observatory that measures carbon dioxide and methane emitted from Earth.