China invites netizens to vote on name for Mars rover
Pub Date:2021-01-20 14:49 Source:Xinhua
China's space administration has
unveiled a list of 10 selections for the name of the country's first
Mars rover, inviting internet users from across the globe to vote on the
candidates before making a final selection.
Netizens
at home and abroad can take part in the poll to help decide the name of
the Mars rover from Jan. 20 to Feb. 28. The administration will pick
the three most popular names based on public voting and the opinions of
an evaluation committee.
According to
the Lunar Exploration and Space Program Center of the China National
Space Administration, the 10 selected names have come out after a global
naming campaign that kicked off in late July 2020.
In
October, a panel of 32 experts selected 10 semifinalists after
evaluating more than 39,000 submissions from 38 countries and regions.
The participants ranged from 7 to 95 years old.
These
include "Hongyi," which means having a broad and strong mind in
Chinese, "Qilin," a legendary animal, and "Nezha," a beloved Chinese
mythological figure.
The final name will be announced when Tianwen-1 lands on Mars, the administration added.
China
launched its Mars probe Tianwen-1 on July 23, 2020. The spacecraft,
consisting of an orbiter, a lander and a rover, is expected to reach the
planet around February.