| Daily Learning | This year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of China’s space industry. Over the past 70 years, from the launch of China’s first artificial Earth satellite “Dongfanghong-1” into space, to the “Chang’e” lunar exploration, “Tianwen” Mars exploration, “Xihe” solar observation, and the Chinese space station roaming the cosmos… China’s space endeavors have been exploring the heavens and chasing the stars.
General Secretary Xi Jinping has been deeply concerned with every step of China’s space industry development, guiding Chinese space professionals to continue striving and soaring toward their dreams. He encouraged the vast number of space workers, saying: “The development of China’s space industry has always followed a path of self-reliance and independent innovation. This path has been successful, and we must persist in walking it in the future.”
As the 11th “China Space Day” approaches, let us together look back at the stellar marks China’s space industry has engraved in the vast sky.
Dongfanghong-1
Dongfanghong-1 was China’s first artificial satellite, launched successfully on April 24, 1970. Named after the revolutionary song “The East Is Red,” it orbited Earth broadcasting that melody via radio, symbolizing China’s entry into the space age. This milestone marked the beginning of China’s independent space exploration efforts during the Cultural Revolution era.
Chang’e
Chang’e is the Chinese goddess of the moon, central to the Mid-Autumn Festival legend. According to myth, she drank an elixir of immortality and floated to the moon to escape her husband, the archer Hou Yi, where she now lives with the jade rabbit. Her story symbolizes love, longing, and the beauty of the moon, and she has inspired China’s lunar exploration program, named the Chang’e missions.
Tianwen
Tianwen, meaning “Questions to Heaven,” is a Chinese Mars exploration mission named after a classic poem by ancient poet Qu Yuan. Launched in July 2020, it successfully deployed the Zhurong rover on Mars in May 2021, making China the second country to land and operate a rover on the Red Planet. The mission represents a significant milestone in China’s deep-space exploration, combining an orbiter, lander, and rover to study Martian geology and atmosphere.
Xihe
Xihe is a traditional Chinese residential complex located in the Hongcun area of Anhui Province, known for its well-preserved Huizhou-style architecture from the Ming and Qing dynasties. Historically, it served as a prosperous merchant settlement, with intricate wood carvings, courtyards, and waterways reflecting the region’s cultural and economic heritage. Today, it is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site “Ancient Villages in Southern Anhui,” offering insight into ancient Chinese rural life.
China Space Day
China Space Day, observed annually on April 24, commemorates the country’s first successful satellite launch, Dongfanghong-1, in 1970. Established in 2016, the day celebrates China’s achievements in space exploration and promotes public interest in aerospace science. It often features exhibitions, educational activities, and announcements of new space missions.
