Beijing, March 1 -- As China celebrates 70 years of space exploration, one man embodies the full arc of that journey. Zhang Lyuqian, radar and electronics pioneer, turned 100 today. And he's not just looking back at history -- he's helping write it.

Centenarian aerospace pioneer Zhang Lyuqian marks his 100th birthday at the opening of "Ink and Orbit," an exhibition honoring seven decades of China's space program -- Beijing, March 1, 2026.

A new exhibition, "Ink and Orbit: Zhang Lyuqian's Calligraphy Celebrating Space Exploration," opened Sunday at the China Scientists Museum (CSM), featuring the centenarian scientist's own brushwork alongside rare archival photographs from China's space program. Zhang attended the opening ceremony in person, offering living testimony to seven decades of innovation, perseverance, and celestial ambition.

From Self-Reliance to Space Power

When China's space program began in 1956, the nation faced a stark reality: limited resources, technological isolation, and the urgent need to build capability from the ground up. Zhang was there at the beginning, developing radar and electronic systems that would become foundational to the nation's aerospace infrastructure.

What followed is a story now familiar to space enthusiasts worldwide -- but one Zhang lived. Satellite launches. Lunar missions. A space station assembling in low Earth orbit. Through it all, the program maintained its founding ethos of self-reliance through homegrown innovation.

"Zhang Lyuqian witnessed the Communist Party of China (CPC)'s leadership transform a nation's scientific aspirations into concrete achievements," said Feng Shenhong, Deputy Secretary of the Party Leadership Group of the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), at Sunday's opening. "He has seen a space power rise."

Where Science Meets Art

The exhibition's unique character lies in its medium. Zhang's calligraphy -- executed in the classical Chinese tradition -- offers a scientist's meditation on exploration, endurance, and humanity's place in the cosmos. Archival images of early rocket assemblies and mission control rooms provide historical anchor points, while the brushwork suggests the contemplative dimension of scientific endeavor.

This intersection of technical achievement and cultural expression reflects a career spent bridging worlds. Zhang's research in radar and electronics demanded precision engineering; his calligraphy requires the same discipline, applied to artistic tradition.

A Gathering of Space Leaders

The opening ceremony brought together leadership from across China's sci-tech community and aerospace sector:

Feng Shenhong (CAST)

Pang Jin (China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, CASC)

Jin Wei (China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation Limited, CASIC)

Academician Bao Weimin (CAST Vice President, CASC Science and Technology Committee Director)

Xue Li (Chinese Association of Natural Science Museums, CANSM)

Academicians Wang Wei and Hou Xiao (CASC Science and Technology Committee)

Their presence underscored the exhibition's significance as both historical documentation and forward-looking inspiration.

The Next Generation

Seventy years after its founding, China's space program continues expanding its reach — from lunar south pole missions to planetary exploration and a permanently crewed space station. The exhibition situates these contemporary achievements within a longer narrative of accumulated expertise, passed from generation to generation.

Zhang Lyuqian remains a vital link in that chain. At 100, he demonstrates that dedication to exploration knows no retirement age.

Visit the Exhibition

"Ink and Orbit: Zhang Lyuqian's Calligraphy Celebrating Space Exploration" runs through June 30, 2026, at the CSM, Beijing. The exhibition is open to the public.

For more information about China's space program and its 70th anniversary commemorations, visit the CMS.

Tag: National Communication Center for Science and Technology affiliated with CAST