Exhibition on Chinese Aerospace Technology Opens

Exhibition on Chinese Aerospace Technology Opens

Showing the history and achievement of space development in China, an exhibition on Chinese aerospace technology opened to the public at the Hong Kong Science Museum Monday.

Chief Executive of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) Tung Chee Hwa officiated at the opening ceremony of the two-month exhibition Monday afternoon.

Over 30 items of mock-ups and models related to Chinese rockets and satellites as well as pictures and display panels are on show.

The exhibition is divided into five sections, including a section for fairing and escape tower of Long March 2F rocket and a spacecraft zone with "Shenzhou" spacecraft, parachutes, the China and Hong Kong SAR flags once flown on board the "Shenzhou" spacecraft in orbit as major exhibits.

The history and development of Chinese aerospace science and technology, Long March series rockets, and the Chinese made satellites and their applications are also featured at the exhibition.

Chief Curator of Hong Kong Science Museum Yip Chee-kuen noted that the "Shenzhou" spacecraft is the star exhibit.

China's 17th recoverable satellite, which was deployed on October 20, 1996, is also shown for the first time in Hong Kong.

On November 20, 1999, the success of the maiden flight of an unmanned spacecraft "Shenzhou" marked a great breakthrough in the Chinese aerospace technology, said Xu Dazhe, president of the Chinese Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology.

According to Xu, the Long March rockets have been established to a fleet of 11 models of 4 series since its first launch in 1970, having the capabilities to launch satellites into low Earth orbit, Sun-synchronous orbit and geostationary-transfer orbit.

The exhibition offers the public with an opportunity to view nine different models of the Long March series in one go, Xu said. Besides, the exhibition also features China-made satellites named Dongfanghong, Shijian, Fengyun and Ziyuan, Xu added.

Also officiating at the opening ceremony are the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Hong Kong SAR Ma Yuzhen, Commander of People's Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison Lieutenant General Xiong Ziren, and Deputy Director of Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong SAR Liu Shanzai, as well as officials from Hong Kong SAR government.

The exhibition is jointly organized by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. To coincide with the exhibition, a series of lectures, film shows and demonstrations of rocket propulsion will be organized by the Hong Kong Science Museum.