Chinese Legends in Space: Meet Chang’e, Yutu, and Wukong 🚀
Did you know that some of China’s space missions are named after ancient mythical figures? 🌟 Let’s take a journey and meet Chang’e, Yutu, and Wukong—legendary characters who are now exploring space!
Chang’e: The Moon Goddess 🌕
In Chinese mythology, Chang’e is the goddess of the Moon. She is known for drinking an elixir of immortality and floating up to the Moon. Today, Chang’e is the name of China’s lunar exploration program! The Chang’e missions have sent spacecraft to orbit and land on the Moon, helping us learn more about our closest neighbor in space.
Yutu: The Jade Rabbit 🐇
According to legend, Chang’e is accompanied on the Moon by a jade rabbit named Yutu. In 2013, China sent a rover called Yutu to the Moon as part of the Chang’e-3 mission. This little rover explored the lunar surface, just like the mythical rabbit exploring the Moon’s secrets!
Wukong: The Monkey King 🐵✨
Sun Wukong, also known as the Monkey King, is a magical character from the classic tale “Journey to the West.” He’s famous for his incredible strength and ability to travel on clouds. In 2015, China launched the Wukong satellite (also known as DAMPE) to study mysterious dark matter in the universe. Just like the Monkey King, this satellite is on an epic quest to discover hidden things!
Bridging Myth and Science 🌠
By naming space missions after these legendary figures, China is connecting its rich cultural history with modern science and technology. It makes space exploration even more exciting and helps inspire people—especially kids and teenagers—to learn about space and science.
Join the Adventure! 🚀
Who knows what other mythical names will journey into space in the future? Maybe one day, you’ll be part of a mission named after a legend! The sky isn’t the limit; it’s just the beginning.
Reference(s):
How Chinese mythical figures live on through space exploration
cgtn.com
