Models of the Chang'e-4 lander and Yutu-2 rover were showcased at Toulouse's Cité de l'Espace in southern France, bringing attention to China's achievements in lunar exploration.
Toulouse, known as the "European Capital of Space," is home to a cluster of aerospace companies and the public-facing space science center, Cité de l'Espace.
As China's 10th Space Day, celebrated on April 24, approaches, models of vehicles from the country's lunar missions are showcased at the center.
In the outdoor exhibition area of the center, life-sized models of the Chang'e-4 lander and Yutu-2 rover attracted the attention of many French visitors. The models are part of the Chang'e-4 probe, the first spacecraft to land on the far side of the moon.
"We've established a partnership with the China National Space Administration (CNSA), and they provided us with a scale model of the Chang'e-4 lander for display. We're thrilled by this because the mission marks the first successful landing on the far side of the Moon, a historic achievement. It also paved the way for the subsequent Chang'e-6 mission, which collected lunar samples from the Moon's far side," said Benjamin Peter, Space News Manager at Cité de l'Espace.
The display of the Chang'e-4 and Yutu-2 models plays a crucial role in helping the French public understand the concept of the "far side of the Moon." Peter also shared his hope to keep presenting China's progress in space exploration to the French public.
"We're eager to present China's space projects to the public. China is not only actively advancing lunar exploration missions, but is also pushing forward with Mars missions and deep-space exploration. Displaying these accomplishments is important for us," he said.
China's lunar mission models on display in Toulouse space city
