"I wish to strenghten the links between our institutions"

For one whole year, he was part of the Swiss Space Center’s staff. But the end of his trainee program has come. On Tuesday March 24th, this 37-year old visiting professor, specialized in the systems design of small satellites and distributed satellites, will go back to China. After getting his Ph.D degree in 2006, he has been working at the Harbin Institute of Technology, where he was appointed full professor in satellite engineering in 2013. Between 2006 and 2014, he worked on the planning and design of three important satellites. Now, he is working on a formation of flying satellites as deputy chief-designer.

- What did you accomplish during your stay at the Swiss Space Center?

I worked on the Navigation and control system of the CleanSpace One project. We didn’t make as much progress as we wanted to, because I had to return to China a few times, to deal with ongoing projects. But I got very interested in the topic of debris removal, which has been gradually entering my research field.

- What did you learn?

I was lucky to share an office with Professor Claude Nicollier. I also attended his master class for one semester. I learned a lot from him and his experience in space, the four missions he accomplished with the shuttle and his famous spacewalk. I also learned about how the Swiss Space Center is structured at a national level. And I learned almost ten sentences in French!

- Is the way to work in the space domain very different here from China?

Yes, this is quite different. In China, teleconferences, for example, are not allowed. And we have to work on week-ends for more successful satellites launches. So, more projects, more business trips, less holidays.

- What was the most striking or surprising thing for you here (at the SSC and in Switzerland)?

I was very surprised to have the opportunity to work with Claude Nicollier, Switzerland’s space hero! I invited him to come visit my center, in Harbin, where my colleagues and students would be delighted to meet him. Another striking thing is the way the staff, including Ph.D students, greet the Space Center’s Director, by his first name. This is inconceivable in China. This must be a cultural difference.

- What will remain as your best memory or moment here?

We had a very pleasant annual journey in Gruyères. I also appreciated working under zero pressure and resting every week-end. And I was also very excited to have a joint open presentation and discussion about Swiss-China Space Technology on March 19th at the University of Geneva.

- What will you bring back to China?

First of all, I’ll bring back the wish to continue to strengthen the links between the two EPFL space centers - SSC and eSpace- and the Research Center of Satellite Technology, where I work. I hope that we can develop cooperation in the field of Active Debris Removal, in which CleanSpace One is a perfect solution. Plus, there is a strong resemblance between the SSC and my group, placing more emphasis on engineering, not research, and thus making coordinated work more realistic.