[Video/WeChat account: wuxifabu2013]

Wuxi Museum launched an exhibition showcasing major scientific and technological achievements in the fields of lunar exploration and deep-sea engineering on May 12.

The 700-square-meter exhibition is made up of two parts, displaying eight relevant pieces of equipment of the Chang'e 5 probe and models of China's three deep-sea submersibles respectively.

The Chang'e 5 probe, comprising four main components -- an orbiter, lander, ascender and reentry capsule -- was launched on Nov 24. Its lander-ascender combination touched down on Dec 1 in the Mons Rumker region of the moon's Oceanus Procellarum, Latin for Ocean of Storms, on the western edge of the near side of the moon.

The probe returned to Earth on Dec 17, 2020, as well as retrieved a total of 1,731 grams of lunar samples, mainly rocks and soil from the lunar surface.

Lunar soil sample can be seen under a microscope at Wuxi Museum from May 12 to 17. [Photo/IC]

Chang'e 5's success in bringing back the lunar samples made China the third country in the world to retrieve samples from the moon after the United States and the former Soviet Union.

Scientists believe that the new lunar samples, the first retrieved by humanity in 44 years, could help fill an important gap in their understanding of the moon's volcanic activity and evolution.

Wang Zhile, a student at Jiangxi Primary School, viewed the lunar soil at the exhibition and was glad to have a close look at the black-and-white lunar soil.

Models of China's Fendouzhe, Jiaolong, and Shenhai Yongshi (Deep-Sea Warrior) submersibles are displayed at the deep-sea engineering exhibition area.

All three deep-sea manned submersibles were developed by the China Ship Scientific Research Center based in Wuxi, China's largest ship and ocean engineering research institute.

The exhibition will run until May 17. Visitors can make an appointment on the official website of Wuxi Museum to see the exhibition, which is open from 9 am to 4 pm every day.