Replicas of China's manned space program displayed in Shanghai

Replicas including modules of China space station, rockets and a moon lander are on display at an exhibition in Shanghai. The exhibition, showcasing achievements of China Manned Space Program, is being held at Shanghai New International Expo Center.

A large-scale model of the docking mechanism has been drawing eyes of visitors. It is an important part of manned spacecraft, cargo spacecraft, space station and other spacecraft to interconnect precisely.

"A set of docking mechanism is composed of two parts: the active end and the passive end, and the whole set has more than a dozen motors, over 100 sensors, more than 1,000 gears and bearings, and more than 10,000 components," said Fan Ping, chief designer of space stations at Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology.

The design of docking mechanisms varies based on the types of spacecraft. For example, mechanisms for manned spacecraft need to be able to have astronauts pass through, according to Fan.

The successes of the docking mechanisms in China's manned missions have laid important technical foundations for the country's future space missions, she said.

Equipment for Earth-space communication and communication between astronauts in space, and models of space panorama cameras developed for China's space station are also displayed at the exhibition.

A life-size model of China's space station core module is on display, giving visitors immersive experiences in the country's "space home."

The space station features a basic three-module configuration consisting of the core module Tianhe and two lab modules, Wentian and Mengtian. With the core module at the center and a lab capsule on each side, the space station takes a "T" shape.

"When all the solar wings fully unfold, the station measures approximately 55 meters long and 42 meters wide. It has about 122 cubic meters of inside space for astronauts. There are 25 cabinets for scientific experiments in the cabin and 67 platforms for exposed payloads outside the cabin," said Wu Jinhua, chief designer of the space station's module cabin with the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology.

Opened on December 29, 2023, the exhibition will last until February 16.