Since 2016, China has been celebrating its Space Day on April 24. /CFP
From the past to the present, humankind has never stopped yearning to explore the sea of stars and unravel the mysteries of the cosmos. Since 2016, China has been celebrating its Space Day on April 24, commemorating the launch of the country's first man-made satellite "Dongfanghong-1" into space on April 24, 1970.
The event made China the 5th country to send satellites into orbit and is counted as a major milestone in Chinese space exploration.
Students make a model of "Dongfanghong-1," China's first man-made satellite, in Hai'an, Jiangsu, April 21, 2020. /CFP
China embarked on the path to developing its space industry in 1956, as the founding of the country's first missile and rocket research institution on October 8 of that year saw the birth of the nation's space industry. Qian Xuesen, credited as one of the founders of China's space industry, was appointed as the institution's first director.
In 1992, China prescribed a "three-step" strategy to boost its manned space program, and astronaut Yang Liwei entered space in 2003 with the Shenzhou-5, becoming the country's first "taikonaut" in orbit.
A file photo taken on October 15, 2003, shows Chinese astronaut Yang Liwei aboard the Shenzhou-5 displaying the flags of China and the United Nations. /CFP
China has experienced a decades-long journey in developing its own aerospace capabilities, with great achievements made in space station construction, as well as moon and Mars exploration, thanks to generations of professionals who dare to dream big.
A file photo of "Yutu-2," China's lunar rover. /CFP
While chasing its dreams to reveal more about the universe, China has bestowed names on its space projects that are deeply rooted in the country's unique culture, connecting advanced technologies with romantic fantasies of the cosmos.
For instance, China gave the name "Yutu," or "Jade Rabbit," to its first moon rover. In Chinese folklore, this white rabbit is the pet of Chang'e, the legendary moon goddess who lent her name to the Chinese lunar mission.