Windy Shao windysjf@hotmail.com LUNAR soil samples, from both the near and far sides, will be on display at the Shenzhen Science & Technology Museum this weekend, marking a milestone moment for China’s lunar exploration program and offering visitors a tangible glimpse into deep-space exploration. The display will include regolith collected by Chang’e-5 from the Mons Rümker region on the moon’s near side and samples from the South Pole–Aitken Basin — humanity’s first-ever retrieval from the moon’s far side — brought back by Chang’e-6. These samples anchor humanity’s dream of building a home beyond Earth, exhibition organizers said. The samples are part of two parallel exhibitions opening Dec. 6 — the “Embracing the Moon: China’s Lunar Exploration Program Achievements” exhibition and the “National Power: China’s Aerospace Hardware” exhibition.” Together, they promise a unique celebration of China’s space achievements. On display alongside the lunar samples is the recovered Long March-2F Y11 rocket. In 2016, this rocket carried astronauts Jing Haipeng and Chen Dong into orbit for a 33-day stay aboard the Tiangong-2 space laboratory, setting China’s then-record for the longest mission for astronauts. Daily life in orbit — tending lettuce, conducting mechanical-arm experiments, watching synchronized news with Earth, exchanging birthday wishes across space — is etched into the rocket’s every detail. Its “CZ-2F” markings, burn traces, and remaining insulation tiles are still visible — physical evidence of its fiery journey through Earth’s atmosphere. From ancient sky-gazing to modern landings and from the legend of Chang’e to rigorous scientific discovery, the exhibitions will highlight a uniquely Chinese blend of romance, curiosity, and determination and China’s expanding role in humanity’s exploration of the cosmos. “Embracing the Moon — China’s Lunar Exploration Program Achievements” exhibition Dates: Dec. 6, 2025 – Feb. 28, 2026 Location: 2F, West Entrance Staircase Lounge, Shenzhen Science & Technology Museum, Guangming District. Access: Reservation required via the “深圳科技馆”(“Shenzhen Science & Technology Museum”)mini-program. “National Power: China’s Aerospace Hardware” exhibition Dates: Dec. 6, 2025 – March 4, 2026 Location: 2F, West Entrance Platform, Shenzhen Science & Technology Museum, Guangming District. Access: Free admission; no reservation required. | 