25th Annual CAST Meeting on Deep Space Exploration: High-End Forum and Thematic Discussions on Scientific and Technical Issues

The high-end forum on deep space exploration of the 25th Annual Meeting of the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) was held on October 23. Organized by CAST and the People's Government of Anhui Province, and co-hosted by the Chinese Society of Astronautics and the Deep Space Exploration Laboratory, the event took place in Hefei, Anhui. The conference was also supported by the Chinese Society of Biotechnology, the deep space exploration technology professional committee of the Chinese Society of Astronautics (CSA), and the professional committee on aerospace medical engineering and space biology of the CSA.

The conference was themed on "international deep space exploration and human practice," and brought together renowned experts and scholars from various academic groups and international organizations worldwide. It focused on the most recent scientific and technological advances and breakthroughs in deep space exploration, discussing key areas such as lunar exploration, Mars exploration, and biological experiments. The event featured keynote presentations, thematic discussions, and paper exchanges, with nearly 200 scholars from relevant fields in attendance.

Zheng Yongfei, Vice Chairman of the Anhui Provincial Political Consultative Conference and Chairman of the Anhui Provincial Committee of the China Democratic League, attended the conference and delivered an opening speech. In his remarks, he emphasized that since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China Anhui has been dedicated to developing the aerospace and space information industry, has actively supported the establishment of national key laboratories within the province, and has striven to build a talent hub for deep space exploration. He hoped that the conference's success would contribute to Anhui's progress towards becoming a center of innovation. The event was presided over by Wang Yiran, Deputy Chairman and Secretary-General of the CSA.

Zheng Yongfei, Vice Chairman of the Anhui Provincial Political Consultative Conference and Chairman of the Anhui Provincial Committee of the China Democratic League, delivers the opening speech.

Wang Yiran, Deputy Chairman and Secretary-General of the CSA, presides over the event.

During the keynote speech session, the following presentations were delivered:

- Yu Dengyun, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, an academician of the International Academy of Aeronautics, the chief designer of the fourth phase of the Chinese Lunar Exploration Project, and the deputy director of the Science and Technology Committee of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, presented a report titled "Reflections on the Development of the Moon Bridge Communication and Navigation Remote Integrated Constellation System."

- Pei Zhaoyu, the chief designer of the Chang'e-8 mission, shared insights in a report titled "Considerations on the International Lunar Scientific Research Station."

- Amet Hamdi Takan, an aerospace expert from the Turkish Space Agency, highlighted the application and future potential of artificial intelligence technology in lunar exploration and deep space exploration with the theme "Space Artificial Intelligence Technology Serving the New Era of Deep Space Travel and Exploration."

- Zhang Chongfeng, deputy chief designer of the manned spacecraft system and space laboratory system of the China Manned Space Engineering Program, and a standing member of the Science and Technology Committee of the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology, delivered a report titled "The Application of Aerospace Institutions in China's Space Station."

- Bernard Foing, deputy chairman of the COSPAR Planetary Committee, an academician of the International Academy of Aeronautics, and the former chief scientist of the European Space Agency, presented his perspectives on space science research related to the Earth-Moon-Mars system.

Yu Dengyun, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, academician of the International Academy of Aeronautics, chief designer of the Fourth Phase of the Chinese Lunar Exploration Project, and deputy director of the Science and Technology Committee of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation

Pei Zhaoyu, chief designer of the Chang'e-8 mission

Amet Hamdi Takan, an aerospace expert from the Turkish Space Agency

Zhang Chongfeng, deputy chief designer of the manned spacecraft system and space laboratory system of the China Manned Space Engineering Program, and standjng member of the Science and Technology Committee of the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology

Bernard Foing, deputy chairman of the COSPAR Planetary Committee, academician of the International Academy of Aeronautics, and Former Chief Scientist of the European Space Agency

The conference held two thematic discussions on the scientific and technical issues of deep space exploration, chaired by Cui Pingyuan, academician of the International Academy of Aeronautics, distinguished professor of the Beijing Institute of Technology, chief scientist of the "Deep Space 973" project, and director of the key laboratory of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and Wang Yuming, dean of the deep space exploration laboratory of the Deep Space Science Research Institute.

In the scientific issues discussion, three experts from the Deep Space Exploration Laboratory introduced various research achievements. Chu Yingzhi, an expert from the General Technology Research Institute, presented the report "Lunar Research Station Moon-based Magnetic Levitation Rotating Ejection Return System". Zhang Tianzhu, an expert from the Future Technology Research Institute, presented the report "Resource Utilization Technology for the International Lunar Research Station". Lin Qing, an expert from the Deep Space Science Research Institute, presented the report "SCEP: Deep Space Magnetic Monopole/Axion Search Experiment".

In the technical issues discussion, Fu Yu, a researcher from the Institute of Microbiology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, presented the report "Microbiology research and technology development in Deep Space Exploration", introducing the interdisciplinary research between deep space exploration and bioengineering. Yang Kuan, associate professor of the Beijing Institute of Technology and Deputy Dean of the Aerospace Policy and Law Research Institute of the Beijing Institute of Technology, presented the report "Data Protection Mechanism and Pathways for International Cooperation on the Chinese Space Station" from the perspective of space law. Long Jiateng, associate professor of the Beijing Institute of Technology, presented the report "Autonomous navigation and guidance technology for Martian atmospheric entry".

The conference collected dozens of papers, and after expert review and selection by the academic committee, five high-level paper authors were invited to participate in the paper exchange session. Teachers and students from the Xi'an Branch of the China Academy of Space Technology, China Jiliang University, the Beijing Institute of Technology, and Northwestern Polytechnical University actively shared their research results, research methods, and scientific research experiences at the conference.