Airshow China to feature lunar samples from Moon's far side

The 16th Airshow China, an international aviation and aerospace exposition, will feature lunar samples from both the visible and hidden sides of the Moon. According to the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense (SASTIND), visitors will be able to compare samples returned by the Chang’e-5 mission from the Moon's visible side with those from the Chang’e-6 mission from the far side.

Scheduled to take place from December 7 to 13 in Zhuhai, Guangdong province, the event has expanded to an indoor exhibition area of 135,000 square meters. The show is expected to feature over 3,000 pieces of equipment, including more than 170 aircraft. More than 1,100 companies from nearly 50 countries and regions are registered to participate.

For the first time, the exhibition will be divided into three distinct zones: a main central area, a dedicated unmanned equipment area, and a maritime equipment area. Major participants include the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, which will display models such as a heavy-lift launch vehicle first-stage engine and the Tianwen-2 probe, and the Aero Engine Corporation of China, which will showcase nearly 90 types of aero engines and advanced materials.