On Chinese Valentine's Day, let's see the romance in space

It is the Chinese Valentine's Day again, a traditional Chinese festival that carries ancient legends and romantic feelings. In fact, romance is not only the exclusive domain of love, but also lies in human exploration of the unknown. In this boundless cosmic painting, China's aerospace industry, with its unique romantic brushstrokes, depicts human beings' endless desire for the sea of ​​stars. Today, let us cast our eyes to the higher space and experience the unique romance in aerospace.

1. Our Earth-Moon Relay Satellite - "Queqiao"

In the legend of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, on the Chinese Valentine's Day, magpies would build a magpie bridge to help the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl cross the Milky Way to meet each other. Now, Chinese astronauts have used two magpie bridge relay satellites to make "letters from the earth to the moon" a reality.

2. Our lunar exploration mission - Chang'e

In ancient Chinese legend, Chang'e took the elixir of immortality and headed for the Moon. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Chang'e Project. China has successfully launched seven Chang'e series lunar probes (including Chang'e 5 T1), making the legend come true - Chang'e's flight to the Moon is no longer a myth.

3. Our lunar rover - Yutu

The Jade Rabbit is a mythical creature on the moon in ancient Chinese legends. my country launched the Chang'e 3 and Chang'e 4 probes in 2013 and 2018, respectively. The lunar rovers Yutu and Yutu 2 also landed on the moon, turning the myth into reality - there really is a Jade Rabbit on the moon.

4. Our manned spacecraft - Shenzhou

It means "magical boat in the Milky Way", and is also the homonym of "Shenzhou". "Shenzhou" has flown into space and Chinese astronauts have gone into space thirteen times on the "Shenzhou" series of spacecraft, showing the world China's achievements in space flight and the elegant demeanor of Chinese astronauts.

5. Our space station - Tiangong

Originating from the most beautiful imagination of the descendants of Yan and Huang about the heavens, the Tiangong space station has built a home for the Chinese nation in space and opened a magnificent prelude to human life in space.

6. Our Mars exploration mission - "Tianwen"

Originated from the Chu Ci "Heavenly Questions", more than two thousand years ago, the poet Qu Yuan raised questions about the heaven, earth and nature. Two thousand years later, China's Mars probe was launched into space with the Chinese nation's exploration of Mars, starting an interstellar journey to find answers.

7. Our Mars Rover - Zhurong

The name comes from the ancient Chinese mythological figure, the fire god Zhurong, who innovated the way to make fire, taught the techniques of using and preserving fire, and benefited the people. With the launch of Tianwen-1, the Mars rover Zhurong also set foot on the journey to Mars, illuminating mankind's endless exploration of the depths of the universe.

8. Our solar exploration satellite - "Xihe"

Xihe is a Chinese mythological figure. It is said that she gave birth to ten suns, which gave rise to the story of "Hou Yi shooting the suns". The launch of the "Xihe" solar observation satellite opens a new chapter for mankind's understanding of the stellar world.

9. Our solar monitoring satellite project - Kuafu

Taken from the ancient Chinese myth “Kuafu Chases the Sun”, whether in ancient times or modern times, we have never stopped exploring the sun.

In addition to the ones introduced above, what other romantic names do you know in my country's aerospace field?

Planning: Shi Wenhui, Mu Tan, Yang Sishuang

Produced by: Yang Sishuang and Mu Tan

Reviewer: Pang Zhihao, Chief Scientific Communication Expert of National Space Exploration Technology