From March 19 to 22, Li Detian, Academicianof the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Doctoral Supervisor of Lanzhou Institute of Physics (510 Institute), Director of the National Key Laboratory of Science and Technology on Vacuum Technology and Physics, and Director of Vacuum Technology and Aerospace Engineering Research Center, the NEU, led a delegation to visit NEU to discuss how to promote in-depth cooperation between the two sides in the fields of aerospace science and technology as well as the development and utilization of extraterrestrial resources.
On the morning of March 20, Guo Hai, Secretary of the Party Committee, the NEU, conducted talks with Academician Li Detian. Guo Hai spoke highly of the cooperation achievements since the signing of the comprehensive strategic cooperation agreement between the two sides in 2022, including the joint construction of the Vacuum Technology and Aerospace Engineering Research Center (Academician Workstation), the project for improving the scientific research ability approved by the Ministry of Education, the NEU’s Ground Simulation Test System of the "Mining-Selection-Smelting-Construction" Operation Process of Key Lunar Mineral Resources (referred to as the "Project"), and the remarkable achievements in scientific research, talent training, platform construction and achievement transformation. Academician Li Detian pointed out that the project combines the multidisciplinary advantages of the NEU's resource development with the technical expertise of aerospace equipment of 510 institute. By building a lunar extreme environment simulation system and breaking through the key technologies of in-situ utilization of extraterrestrial resources, the project can provide technical support for the lunar exploration program, manned lunar-landing and the construction of international lunar scientific research stations, marking that the cooperation between the two sides entered a new stage.
On the same day, the project progress report and coordination meeting was held in Hanqing Hall. The technical team reported the progress and challenges of the project in detail. Academician Li Detian emphasized that it is necessary to take the aerospace spirit as the guide, seize the historic opportunity, and strive to complete the construction target at the first phase as scheduled, thus helping China achieve long-term presence on the lunar surface. Relevant heads of the Research Institute of Science and Technology and the Construction and Management Department of Major Science and Technology Infrastructures discussed the technical difficulties, and interdisciplinary teams from the following organizations such as School of Mechanical Engineering and Automation, State Key Laboratory of Intelligent Deep Metal Mining and Equipment, School of Resources and Civil Engineering, School of Metallurgy and Software College participated in the exchange.
Academician Li Detian, together with his delegation, investigated the site selection of Hunnan Campus, the planning of Hunnan Science and Technology City and the construction of the NEU’s Innovation Port, and went into the construction site to get information about the layout of scientific research infrastructures.
It is reported that since the initiation of strategic cooperation in March 2022, the two sides have jointly built the Academician Workstation, explored interdisciplinary and industrial applications by giving full play to their respective advantages, and achieved a series of important results through continuing to deepen cooperative research on exploratory, cutting-edge and strategic major issues. For two consecutive years, the Excellent Academician Workstationin Shenyang was awarded. In January 2025, the "Mining-Selection-Smelting-Construction" project of the Ministry of Education was formally established, opening a new phase in cooperation. In the future,the two sides will continue to focus on interdisciplinary and key technological breakthrough, contributing scientific and technological strength to the aerospace industry of China.
