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HKPC-led Delegation Visits Jiuquan for Historic Launch of HK Students’ Space Experiments Onboard Shenzhou-11

It was a historic moment for 17 representatives from the winning school teams of the “Space Science Experiment Design Competition for Hong Kong Secondary School Students” who witnessed the launch of the Shenzhou-11 manned spacecraft today (17 October 2016), as part of a delegation led by the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC).

Notably, the experiment designs from Hong Kong secondary students were being carried onboard Shenzhou-11. This is also the first time that Hong Kong students witnessed the rocket launch live at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in Gansu Province. Being one of the implementation organizations of the Competition, HKPC organized the delegation to Jiuquan.

Led by Mr Willy Lin, Chairman of HKPC, the delegation comprises representatives from four winning teams - the Champion, the first and second runners-up, and Best Potential Award; Mrs Agnes Mak, Convenor of the Executive Committee of the Competition and Executive Director of HKPC; as well as representatives from the Executive Committee and sponsors.

Once sent into orbit, Shenzhou-11 will dock with the Tiangong-2 space laboratory that was launched last month. During their stay in the space laboratory, Chinese astronauts Mr Jing Haipeng and Mr Chen Dong will conduct a series of experiments under zero gravity, including the three winning projects of the Competition. These experiments will study the production of porous membranes, transformation of silkworms, as well as the oscillation of a double pendulum under zero gravity.

Mr Lin said, “2016 marks the 60th anniversary in China’s aerospace development. HKPC is honored to organize this delegation to the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre to witness the setting of yet another milestone in the history of China’s aerospace development. This is also the first time that Chinese astronauts will conduct experiments designs of Hong Kong students in their space mission. In addition to realizing students’ dream in space science, the Competition has also nurtured a culture of innovation and technology in Hong Kong. We wish the space mission every success.”

During the study mission, the students will also meet with local secondary students to exchange their learning experience on science and technology.

Jointly organized by the Home Affairs Bureau of the HKSAR Government and the China Manned Space Agency, the Competition was launched in October 2014 with an aim to encourage Hong Kong secondary students to design science experiments that are feasible for conducting in space. The winning experiment designs were selected out of 70 entries from 47 secondary schools. With guidance from aerospace engineers in China, HKPC has constructed the three winning experiment designs into models that fulfill the aerospace requirements. Earlier, the winning school teams joined a sharing session to learn about the enhanced design of the experiment models.

For more information about the Competition, please contact the Secretariat of the Competition – HKPC at tel.: (852) 2788 5837 (Miss Hu), or email: space@hkpc.org. For other media enquiries, please contact Justina Shum of HKPC’s Corporate Communication and Marketing Division at tel. (852) 2788 5895 or email: justina@hkpc.org.

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Justina Shum
Acting General Manager
Corporate Communication and Marketing
Tel: (852) 2788 5895
Fax: (852) 2788 5056
Email: justina@hkpc.org
Website: www.hkpc.org

17 October 2016

 

Dr Wang Yuan Zhen of the China Manned Space Agency’s operation and quality management bureau (centre) visited the HKPC-organized delegation while they were waiting for the launch of the Shenzhou-11 manned spacecraft at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre early this morning. He was greeted by Mr Willy Lin (right), Chairman of HKPC, and Mrs Agnes Mak, Executive Director of HKPC.Dr Wang Yuan Zhen of the China Manned Space Agency’s operation and quality management bureau (centre) visited the HKPC-organized delegation while they were waiting for the launch of the Shenzhou-11 manned spacecraft at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre early this morning. He was greeted by Mr Willy Lin (right), Chairman of HKPC, and Mrs Agnes Mak, Executive Director of HKPC.

A historic moment for the delegation to witness the launch of the Shenzhou-11 which has carried onboard the experiment designs from Hong Kong secondary students.A historic moment for the delegation to witness the launch of the Shenzhou-11 which has carried onboard the experiment designs from Hong Kong secondary students.

Sunrise at Jiuquan after the launch of the Shenzhou-11 manned spacecraftSunrise at Jiuquan after the launch of the Shenzhou-11 manned spacecraft