The State Key Laboratory of Lunar and Planetary Sciences (SKLPlanets) was originally established in 2018 with the approval from the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China. As part of China’s strategic initiative to strengthen scientific and technological innovation and to enhance research capabilities, SKLPlanets was approved for restructuring and upgrading in January 2025, and officially inaugurated on August 26. As the first state key laboratory in astronomy and planetary sciences, its establishment reflects the nation’s high priority on deep space exploration and marks a significant step in promoting scientific and technological collaboration within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area. It also supports Macau's development as an international hub for scientific research cooperation.

SKLPlanets’core faculty comprises a chair professor, professors, distinguished guest professors, associate professors, and assistant professors, totaling 50 members. Together with domestic and international experts and scholars from prestigious institutions, they form a robust research team of approximately three hundred people. Professor Zong Qiugang serves as the director of the SKLPlanets.