The China Manned Spacecraft Agency (CMSA) on Wednesday released the names of the lunar landing suit and the manned lunar rover for the country’s manned lunar exploration missions.
The lunar landing suit is called “Wangyu,” meaning “observing the cosmos,” echoing the name of the spacewalk suit, “Feitian,” meaning “space flight,” according to the CMSA. The name signifies that, after achieving the goals of manned spaceflight and the construction of China’s space station, the country’s space program has embarked on a new journey to reach the moon and deep space.
The name also signifies China’s steadfast commitment to the peaceful use of outer space and its contribution to building a community with a shared future for mankind through its own development.
The manned lunar rover is called “Tansuo,” which means “exploration of the unknown.” The name reflects the lunar rover’s mission and the practical value of helping the Chinese people discover the mysteries of the moon, the agency said.
The name also symbolizes the innovative spirit and exploratory intent of China’s manned space program.
The two names were selected from about 9,000 proposals collected from the public.
Chinese astronauts are scheduled to land on the moon before 2030 for scientific exploration. Two carrier rockets will be launched to send a manned spacecraft and a lunar lander into orbit around Earth’s only natural satellite. The spacecraft and lander will meet and dock with each other, and then the astronauts will enter the lander.
When the lander arrives on the lunar surface, astronauts will use the lunar rover for scientific exploration. According to the mission program, the manned lunar rover will have functions such as manned guidance, lunar surface movement, positioning and safety assistance, which can help astronauts in movement, communication and exploration.
Currently, research and development efforts related to both “Wangyu” and “Tansuo” are progressing well, CMSA said.
