Thailand's First Lunar Mission Comes to Science Fair

The National Astronomical Research Institute (NARIT) is inviting visitors to the National Science and Technology Fair 2026 to follow Thailand's first lunar exploration mission and learn about the CE-7 MATCH instrument before it launches toward the moon on August 24. Suparak Kruehanon, Assistant Director of NARIT, said the institute's exhibition booth at the fair is themed "Thailand's First Step to Lunar Exploration: Thailand Moonshot: CE-7 MATCH" and will countdown to the moment when CE-7 MATCH—a scientific instrument designed and developed by NARIT with Mahidol University—departs to orbit the moon as part of China's Chang'e-7 mission on August 24. The exhibition will display the actual CE-7 MATCH instrument used in testing, a detailed model of the Chang'e-7 spacecraft, and a mockup of the Long March-5 Y14 rocket that will carry the mission into space, along with lunar soil models, lunar surface photography activities, and Milky Way displays, as well as examples of space and astronomical technology developed in Thailand, showcasing Thailand's role in deep space exploration for the first time.

NARIT is also hosting special events including an exclusive talk on "Thailand's First Step to Lunar Exploration" featuring engineers and scientists from the ILRS Thailand project on Sunday, August 16, 2026 from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. at Phoenix 3 Hall, Impact Muang Thong Thani; an awards ceremony for the annual school-level astronomy exchange and learning activity on Monday, August 17 from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. at the central stage; and support for elementary students in the "Little Star Contest" finals on Monday, August 17 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the central stage. The fair runs August 15–23, 2026 from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Hall 9 of Impact Muang Thong Thani in Nonthaburi Province and is free to enter.