China has unveiled the name of its new spacecraft that will take its astronauts, also known as taikonauts in the country, on a lunar mission expected by the end of this decade.
“Mengzhou” spacecraft and the “Lan Yue” lunar lander will be China's Moon mission, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) said in a statement issued over the weekend.
China aims to land astronauts on the moon before 2030.
The names were chosen from nearly 2,000 submissions from the aerospace, science, technology, and cultural communities, said the space agency.
"Mengzhou,” which means “Dream Vessel,” signifies the Chinese people's long-held dream of reaching the moon and it also symbolizes a “new chapter in their space journey,” it added.
The “Lan Yue” lunar lander, meaning “Embracing the Moon,” draws inspiration from a poem by Communist Party founding Chairman Mao Zedong, showcasing China's “boldness and confidence in achieving lunar exploration.”
Currently, the spacecraft, lander, and supporting launch vehicle are in the initial stage of development, with progress on track for the planned lunar landing mission.
According to the statement, the space agency plans to establish a fully functional research base on the Moon by 2050 through a three-stage plan.
The first stage includes three exploration missions by 2028, followed by five manned missions between 2030 and 2040 to build a lunar research base.
China's Tiangong Space Station is complete and has been operational since last December. China began its space program in 1992.
Since its first manned space mission 20 years ago, the country has successfully launched 20 taikonauts, completing 32 trips into space.
Meanwhile, Japan confirmed Monday that its communication with Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) had “terminated'' briefly due to “high” equipment temperatures during lunar midday.
However, it added, “A command was sent to SLIM and a response received, confirming that the spacecraft has made it through the lunar night and maintained communication capabilities!”
