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Dr. Zeng Zhao is a leading figure in extraterrestrial sampling technology, whose work has been instrumental in advancing robotic systems for planetary exploration. His primary research focuses on the development of robotic drills and samplers for regolith collection on the Moon and other celestial bodies. Dr. Zhao’s most significant contribution is his central role in the Chinese Chang’E 5 lunar sample-return mission, where his team’s 2-meter class robotic drill successfully penetrated one meter into the lunar surface, collecting 259.72 grams of pristine regolith in December 2020. This landmark achievement, detailed in his 2023 paper (20 citations), represents the first lunar sample return in over 40 years. His comprehensive reviews on planetary regolith-sampling technology (2021, 68 citations) and the progress of extraterrestrial regolith-sampling robots (2019, 79 citations) have become essential references, synthesizing decades of research and guiding future missions. With a cumulative impact of over 160 citations on these key works alone, Dr. Zhao’s engineering innovations and scholarly contributions have firmly established him as a pioneer in robotic space exploration, inspiring a new generation of aerospace engineers.