Wuhan City, Hubei Province, central China - April 24, 2024

Storyline:
As a series of events are held nationwide to celebrate the ninth Space Day of China, the country's Shenzhou manned spaceship designer and astronauts have encouraged aerospace workers to pursue their dreams of space exploration.

The main event of this year's Space Day of China is taking place on Wednesday in Wuhan City, the capital of central China's Hubei Province, featuring a launch ceremony, the China Aerospace Conference, an aerospace culture and art forum, and a series of exhibitions.

Experts and scholars from more than 50 countries, regions, and international organizations have gathered at the main event to discuss China's aerospace industry and its accomplishments in recent years.

On the sidelines of the event, China Central Television (CCTV) interviewed Qi Faren, who is known as "the father of Shenzhou spaceship" because he was the first chief designer of this signature craft. He expressed confidence in China's manned lunar exploration program.

Noting that the Shenzhou-18 crew will go into the space on Thursday, Qi said that he hopes the aerospace workers will be committed to their mission and keep innovating.

On Tuesday afternoon, Nie Haisheng, a veteran astronaut who completed three successful spaceflight missions, and Gui Haichao, a payload specialist and a member of the Shenzhou-16 crew, attended the Space and Culture Art Forum. Held in Wuhan, the event aimed to build a cross-industry exchange platform for space sci-tech and culture and art.

The two astronauts delivered speeches at the event, sharing their space stories with the public and encouraging people to follow their dreams.

Shotlist:
Wuhan City, Hubei Province, central China - April 24, 2024:
1. Various of main event of China's 9th Space Day in progress, attendees;
2. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Qi Faren, first chief designer of Shenzhou spaceship(partially overlaid with shots 3-5):
"China is stepping forward to a space power. We are now working on sending Chinese astronauts to the moon, which first and foremost requires bigger carrier rockets. Now this project is progressing smoothly and I am sure it will be completed very well.";
[SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
FILE: In Space - Date Unknown:
3. Chinese space station, planet captured by camera;
4. Astronauts preparing for spacewalk in space station;
FILE: Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, northwest China - May 30, 2023:
5. Various of Shenzhou-16 manned spaceship blasting off from launch pad;
[SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
Wuhan City, Hubei Province, central China - April 24, 2024:
6. Various of attendees at main event of China's 9th Space Day in progress;
7. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Qi Faren, first chief designer of Shenzhou spaceship(ending with shots 8-9):
"The new generation of aerospace workers is facing arduous tasks. Our old generation's mission was to create something from nothing, but the new generation needs to surpass what have been accomplished and lead the aerospace industry. That's why they have heavy tasks and are facing a very difficult challenge. So they should keep and carry forward the spirit embodied in the space program, with love, dreams and innovation."
FILE: In Space - Date Unknown:
8. Various of astronauts carrying out extravehicular activities;
9. Various of Chinese space station, Earth captured by camera;
Wuhan City, Hubei Province, central China - April 23, 2024:
10. Astronaut Nie Haisheng saluting to attendees at Space, Culture Art Forum;
11. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Nie Haisheng, veteran astronaut(partially overlaid with shots 12-15):
"I flied into the space three times in 24 years, an average interval of about eight years. Every small step I have taken was a big step in the development of China's manned spaceflight. I'm proud of this honor for the rest of my life. Going into the space is my mission and the original aspiration. For astronauts, since the day that we decided to shoulder the responsibility of going on the space exploration for the country, we have put life and death at risk. In our opinion, on behalf of the Chinese nation to realize the dream of flying in the sky for thousands of years is the greatest honor.";
[SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
FILE: Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, northwest China - June 17, 2021:
12. Various of Shenzhou-12 astronauts meeting seeing off crowd before launch;
13. Nie speaking;
FILE: In Space - Sept 16, 2021:
14. Shenzhou-12 astronauts in return capsule;
FILE: In Space - 2021:
15. Various of Shenzhou-12 astronauts carrying out extravehicular activities;
[SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE]
Wuhan City, Hubei Province, central China - April 23, 2024:
16. Various of attendees at Space, Culture Art Forum;
17. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Gui Haichao, Shenzhou-16 crew member(ending with shot 18):
"I remembered when I gave lectures in the Tiangong space station, I said that the coldest place in the world is the ultra-cold atomic physics experiment cabinet of our space station. I believe that the warmest place in the world is in everyone's heart, because in our hearts, we have a vibrant blend of different cultures, a keen yearning for further and deeper space, and a hot pace of continuous pursuit of dreams.";
FILE: In Space - Sept 21, 2023:
18. Various of Gui giving lecture in Chinese space station; split screens showing students on ground;
Wuhan City, Hubei Province, central China - April 23, 2024:
19. Various of students at Space, Culture Art Forum.

[RESTRICTIONS: No access Chinese mainland]