2019少年太空人體驗營

As we said our last goodbyes and parted ways, I felt a myriad of emotions as our 9-day trip came to an end. All the different scenes of our experience played themselves over and over in my mind, creating an everlasting memory.

On the first day, we took the high-speed railway to Guizhou to visit the Five-hundred-metre Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST). The verdant mountains and limestone peaks besetting FAST showcased the beauty and serenity of Guizhou. FAST, being the largest aperture spherical radio telescope in the world, really lived up to its name.

After admiring the advanced technology of FAST, we travelled to Beijing Aerospace City where we built our own rocket models and launched them. It is extremely rewarding to watch the rockets we created soar up high into the sky. We also had the honour of trying on space suits, eating space food, taking astronaut psychological tests and completing physical training. This allowed me to experience the difficulty of being an astronaut and how they are truly the cream of the cream. To say I am amazed at the perseverance and fortitude of the astronauts would be an understatement. They are truly an inspiration. I am thrilled to meet Liu Yang, the first Chinese female astronaut, and Chen Dong, one of the astronauts flying the Shenzhou-11 Mission. Liu Yang even watched and assisted some performances on our final night in Beijing. Despite being hailed as a hero, she is still down-to-earth and friendly, which made me look up to her even more.

Another place we visited is the Xinglong Station. It had minimal lighting to facilitate effective stargazing. Many constellations, artificial satellites and even the International Space Station could be identified. Gazing at a multitude of twinkling stars that could not be seen anywhere else made me grasp the severity of light pollution in the city. Preserving the environment should always be a priority even in the midst of development.

Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre lies in the middle of the vast Gobi Desert. We visited rocket launch control centre, rocket assembling centre, as well as rocket and artificial satellite launching sites. Standing on the tall rocket assembly tower, I am immensely proud of China’s development in astronomy and aerospace. It will not be long before Chinese astronauts land on Mars or even other planets!

Our final two destinations are the Jiayuguan Great Wall and Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum in Xi’an. Being immersed in the rich Chinese culture and history is the icing on the cake for this trip.

I must thank Hong Kong Space Museum for their wholehearted support and arrangement in organising this meaningful event. Thanks must also be extended to Beijing Aerospace City, Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre and everyone who helped make this trip possible. I will definitely share my knowledge gained with others to contribute to the society.