A rare opportunity to see soil from the moon in person captivated crowds as the lunar sample from China’s Chang’e-5 mission was under the spotlight in Bangkok.
The lunar sample was featured as one of the highlights at the Sci Power for Future Thailand Fair that concluded on Sunday.
This is due to under collaboration between the National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT) and the China National Space Administration (CNSA).
Enclosed in a rotating crystal sphere, the 75-milligram sample named “The Moon Shines Bright on Me” invited visitors on a microscopic journey to the moon’s surface and they marvelled at the extraterrestrial material up close.
Experiencing the mysterious substance for the first time, elementary school student Tannya Neesanant was filled with excitement.
“The lunar sample’s unusual colour intrigued my curiosity, as it appeared to be sand rather than soil,” the seven-year-old told Xinhua.
The exhibit is a portion of samples that the Chang’e-5 lunar probe collected, one of the most complicated and challenging missions in China’s aerospace history.
They are being able to get closer than ever to the moon inspiring people from diverse backgrounds who visited the display, particularly children.
They fuelled their passions for learning and pursuing their goals, said Suppawat Zhou, a staff member at the exhibition.
“It is truly rewarding to see visually impaired and deaf students learning about the exhibits through the interpretation from their teachers, which sparked their keen interest in astronomy, space and technology,” he added.
NARIT head Saran Poshyachinda said the exhibition also showcased advanced technologies Thailand had developed for astronomical research, such as an instrument designed to observe cosmic radiation and space weather.
Space weather from the lunar perspective would be aboard China’s Chang’e-7 moon exploration mission as designed.
In April, China and Thailand signed two memorandums of understanding to cooperate on exploration and peaceful use of outer space as well as on an international lunar research station.
“We are looking forward to receiving lunar samples from the CNSA for our laboratory test.
“We can develop suitable instruments for future exploration on the moon’s surface.
“Collaboration with China is very crucial for developing our own capabilities and helping us to be in line with global leaders,” he said.
Xinhua/NAN
