HIT's key Photo: Screenshot from the People's Daily

The Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT) has unveiled their 2024 admission notification letters, and this year, each new student will receive a "golden key" made using space-grade materials. 

The keys, which come in three different color schemes, represent spacecraft crossing the troposphere, stratosphere and the outer space. Which one is your favorite?

On Tuesday, HIT announced that they will be gifting each incoming student a "golden key" made with titanium alloy, a high-performance material used in critical components of aerospace vehicles. 

The keys are made using 3D printing technology and polished with a coating used in space station docking technology, symbolizing the students unlocking the doors to the universe and the future.

HIT's 2024 admission notification letters Photo: Screenshot from the People's Daily

The design of the 2024 admission notification letters from HIT resembles a book, with a cover featuring a customizable pattern using grating technology, with the main image being the outline of a key. Upon opening the box, students will find a message from the university president along with the "golden key."

Professor Huang Lujun, Professor Geng Lin and their team from the School of Materials Science and Engineering were responsible for manufacturing the titanium alloy keys. They overcame challenges in integrated control and surface finishing to achieve high-performance titanium alloy and surface polishing, according to a press report by bjnews.com.

Additionally, Professor Wang Langping's team utilized comprehensive ion implantation and surface strengthening technology to prepare the coating on the titanium alloy keys. The technology solved technical challenges related to high wear resistance and anti-cold welding in core components of space docking mechanisms, providing crucial support for over 10 successful dockings of Shenzhou, Tianzhou spacecraft, and the space station.

In addition to showcasing the cutting-edge technology, the 2024 admission notification letters from HIT also incorporate traditional Chinese colors and iconic elements of the university. The school released three sets of notification letters with different color schemes for a vote, with the deadline set for June 13 at 5 pm. HIT stated that they will distribute the final version of the notification letters based on the overall voting results to the admitted students. 

Global Times