The long‑awaited Shenzhen Space Museum will open Oct. 1, museum officials announced on Sept. 25. Shaped like a silver flying saucer and fitted with cutting‑edge technology, the museum sits in the heart of OCT Harbor in Nanshan District.

More than a gallery, the museum aims to be a window linking Earth to the cosmos and the present to the future. Through education, academic exchanges, cultural displays, and immersive experiences, the museum seeks to become an international platform for space outreach — sparking students’ curiosity and nurturing the next generation of innovators.

A rendering of the Shenzhen Space Museum, designed to resemble a silver flying saucer.  Photos courtesy of Shenzhen Space Museum

According to museum director Gong Weiwei, the complex houses more than 100 exhibits, over two‑thirds of which are interactive.

The layout spans four levels. The ground floor features a “Star Gate,” an astronomy primer that introduces visitors to the universe. The second floor showcases China’s Long March rocket family, deep‑space probes, and other national space achievements.

The third floor is dedicated to manned spaceflight, with zones for astronaut training rigs, a 1:1 model of the space station, and simulators such as “Walk on the Moon” and “Drive a Mars Rover.”

A computer-generated image of Shenzhen Space Museum.

The underground “Space Club” offers hands‑on rocket assembly, aerospace maker workshops, youth STEM courses, public lectures, and expert forums.

A state‑of‑the‑art 360‑degree dome theater will immerse visitors in virtual flights through the universe. Outside the museum, the plaza will regularly host rocket‑launch simulations and UFO light shows.

On the opening day, astronaut-turned-instructor Wu Jie will meet the public and share his firsthand space experiences.