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The 15-day "China's First Manned Space Docking Mission" exhibition, presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) and the China Manned Space Engineering Office, in association with the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation and the China Astronaut Research and Training Centre, and solely sponsored by the Chen Ningning Culture Fund Company Limited, will be held at the Hong Kong Science Museum from this Sunday (August 12) until August 26.
Shenzhou-9 blasted off on June 16 this year for its mission, and its three astronauts spent more than 10 days in space. They successfully completed the first manned rendezvous and docking mission with Tiangong-1 as well as a number of experiments, making huge breakthroughs for China's manned space engineering programme.
The exhibition will feature 19 sets of valuable items in relation to this space mission including the re-entry capsule of the Shenzhou-9 spacecraft, the main parachute of the Shenzhou-9 spacecraft, a docking model of Tiangong-1 and Shenzhou-9, models of Changzheng (Long March) rockets, space food, sanitary bags and emergency life packs for astronauts, the national flag collected from Tiangong-1, and more than 100 photos in relation to Shenzhou-9. The exhibition will also feature documentary videos showing the astronauts conducting a number of experiments and some fun activities with themes such as physical training and enjoying food under the weightless conditions of Tiangong-1. Objects relating to Ms Liu Yang, China's first female astronaut, such as her spacesuit, her bicycle ergometer test unit and the Chinese knots she tied in space will also be included, allowing visitors to know more about this space mission.
Admission to the "China's First Manned Space Docking Mission" exhibition is free. However, if there is an excessive number of visitors, crowd control measures will be introduced whenever necessary. In order to enable more visitors to view the exhibition, the museum will bring forward its opening hours during the exhibition period. The exhibition will be open from 2pm to 9pm on the first day (August 12), and will be open from 9am to 9pm daily from August 13 to 26. While the "China's First Manned Space Docking Mission" exhibition will be open daily, the Hong Kong Science Museum's permanent exhibitions and the "Creatures of the Abyss" special exhibition will not be open during the morning session (9am to 1pm) and on Thursdays (August 16 and 23), the regular closing days of the museum.
Schools and registered non-profit-making organisations can apply for group visits to the exhibition and such visits will be arranged during morning sessions from Monday to Friday. Interested parties can call 2732 3294 between 9.15am and 1pm and 2pm and 5.45pm from Monday to Friday for arrangements.
The Hong Kong Science Museum is located at 2 Science Museum Road, Tsim Sha Tsui East, Kowloon. For further details of the exhibition, please visit the museum's website at
hk.science.museum. For enquiries, please call 2732 3232.
Ends/Monday, August 6, 2012
Issued at HKT 19:53
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