A model of the China Space Station is displayed at an exhibition in Beijing, China, February 24, 2023. /CGTN
To mark 30 years of China's manned space program, a grand exhibition kicked off on Friday at the National Museum in Beijing.
The exhibition features models of China's newly completed space station, its famous Long March carrier rockets, future models for China's lunar missions and historical memorabilia to tell the story of three decades of innovation and development.
"We hope the exhibition will pass our passion for the cause to more people. And now in the new era, Chinese people will explore even further into space and contribute to all humankind with our quest," said Hao Chun, director of China Manned Space Agency, at the opening ceremony of the exhibition.
He added that the Chinese people have consistently worked to achieve new advances and breakthroughs in space exploration since 1992 when the program started.
"And in recent years we've worked to build the China Space Station, making our previous 'three-step' dream a reality," he said.
A model of the core module of the China Space Station is displayed at an exhibition in Beijing, China, February 24, 2023. /CGTN
A model of China's next-generation carrier rocket is displayed at an exhibition in Beijing, China, February 24, 2023. /CGTN
Models of a moon lander (L) and China's next-generation manned spacecraft (R) make their debuts at an exhibition in Beijing, China, February 24, 2023. /CGTN
China's next-generation carrier rocket has a thrust of over 2,600 tonnes, three times more than the Long March-5B carrier rocket, according to Zhang Zhi, the chief designer of the vehicle from China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology.
The Long March-5B is currently the most powerful heavy-lift launch vehicle in China, and was responsible for transporting the core module and two lab modules for China's space station.
The academy is also developing a reusable rocket for low-Earth orbit transportation, Zhang added.
Models of China's Long March rocket series are displayed at an exhibition in Beijing, China, February 24, 2023. /CGTN
Models of Chinese space suits are displayed at an exhibition in Beijing, China, February 24, 2023. /CGTN
A model of the reentry capsule of China's Shenzhou-13 spacecraft is displayed at an exhibition in Beijing, China, February 24, 2023. /CGTN
A model of the reentry capsule of China's Shenzhou-13 spacecraft is displayed at an exhibition in Beijing, China, February 24, 2023. /CGTN
The exhibition will run for three months.