Advanced Visual Localization and Topographic Mapping Empower Zhurong Rover's Mars Exploration

A recent study published in the IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing sheds light on the sophisticated visual localization and topographic mapping techniques that empower China's Zhurong rover to navigate and conduct scientific investigations on Mars. Developed by researchers from the Aerospace Information Research Institute (AIR) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Beijing Aerospace Control Center (BACC), these techniques played a vital role in the success of the Tianwen-1 mission—China's first independent interplanetary exploration endeavor.

Apr 03, 2025

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Beijing's Urban Growth Intensifies Summer Heat and Winter Chill, Study Reveals

Rapid urbanization is making Beijing's summers hotter and winters colder, according to a study published in Urban Climate. Using advanced climate modeling, researchers from the Aerospace Information Research Institute (AIR) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences together with the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research have uncovered how urban land use and human-generated heat reshape the city's outdoor thermal comfort, posing dual challenges for residents.

Apr 01, 2025

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Chinese Researchers Develop New Acoustic Thermometry for Rapid Measurement of Air Temperature at High Altitudes

A research team at the Aerospace Information Research Institute (AIR) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has achieved real-time atmospheric temperature measurements at different altitudes of up to 5,200 meters using a new acoustic thermometer mounted on a tethered aerostat. Their findings were published as a cover paper in the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America​.

Mar 31, 2025

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China's FengYun-3 Satellites Revolutionize Global Diurnal Land Surface Temperature Monitoring

A recent study published in the ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing demonstrates how China's FengYun-3 (FY-3) meteorological satellites have significantly advanced global land surface temperature (LST) monitoring across diurnal cycles. Led by Prof. ZHAO Tianjie from the Aerospace Information Research Institute (AIR) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), the research leverages the unique capabilities of FY-3's MicroWave Radiation Imagers (MWRI) to overcome limitations of traditional satellite-based LST retrieval methods.

Mar 31, 2025

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China Unveils Lunar Radar Project to Map Geology, Aid Moon Missions

On March 5, 2025, Beijing hosted the kick-off meeting for the National Natural Science Foundation of China's major project, "Microwave Imaging Radar for Lunar Exploration and Geological Process Inversion". Led by Prof. WANG Yu from the Aerospace Information Research Institute under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (AIRCAS), this project is a pivotal initiative in China's deep space exploration efforts with the aim to advance lunar exploration through cutting-edge microwave imaging technology and geological analysis.

Mar 25, 2025

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