Professor Li Yunli from the School of Civil Engineering and Architecture Approved to Receive Chang’e-5 Lunar Samples

Recently, Professor Li Yunli from the School of Civil Engineering and Architecture of Wuhan Institute of Technology completed the transfer procedures for lunar samples at the Lunar Exploration and Space Engineering Center of the China National Space Administration (CNSA) and the National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Professor Li officially received both the lunar sample certificate and the Chang’e-5 lunar samples. This marks the university’s first acquisition of lunar samples, representing a significant breakthrough and laying an important foundation for future scientific research.

Figure 1. Chang’e-5 Lunar Samples

Figure 2. Lunar Sample Certificate

According to reports, in July 2025, the Lunar Exploration and Space Engineering Center organized the review meeting for applications for the ninth batch of lunar research sample loans. Following rigorous evaluation by the Lunar Sample Expert Committee, review by the Lunar Exploration Center, and final approval by the China National Space Administration, a total of 67 applications from 25 research institutions nationwide were approved, involving 32 principal investigators and a total sample allocation of 30,881.8 mg. Professor Li Yunli, serving as the principal investigator, was approved to receive five Chang’e-5 lunar samples totaling 133.4 mg.

Official CNSA Announcement: （https://www.cnsa.gov.cn/n6758823/n6758839/c10693840/content.html）

As a strategic scientific resource at the national level, the Chang’e-5 lunar samples are of great significance for revealing the evolutionary history of the Moon and supporting deep-space exploration. Based on the approved samples, Professor Li Yunli’s research team will conduct studies on the mechanical properties and constitutive behavior of lunar regolith, aiming to deepen the understanding of lunar soil engineering behavior and support foundation stability and structural safety assessments for future lunar bases. The research therefore carries significant scientific and engineering value.

The successful approval not only demonstrates recognition of Professor Li Yunli’s research strength and forward-looking academic vision, but also highlights the university’s commitment to serving China’s national deep-space exploration strategy and actively advancing interdisciplinary frontier research.

The approved Chang’e-5 lunar samples will provide the university with valuable physical materials and authentic experimental scenarios for conducting original basic research and tackling key common technological challenges. These resources are expected to promote the production of high-level landmark achievements in areas such as planetary surface engineering, materials and structures under extreme environments, and related frontier fields.

Furthermore, the project will strengthen interdisciplinary integration among materials science, mechanics, civil engineering, geology, and aerospace engineering, fostering an innovative interdisciplinary development chain and a new growth engine combining “Deep Space Exploration Science + Civil Engineering.” It will also contribute to the improvement of postgraduate education systems and the cultivation of high-level talent teams, forming a new training model for interdisciplinary professionals oriented toward future deep-space missions. At the same time, the initiative will expand collaborative partnerships with national research institutions and leading industry organizations, significantly enhancing the university’s academic influence and core competitiveness in aerospace engineering and related fields.