China's "Jade Rabbit" Lands on the Moon
In the wee hours of Sunday morning, China's moon rover, named Jade Rabbit, Yu Tu, after the Chinese mythical creature that lives on the moon, rolled onto the lunar surface. This makes China only the third nation to reach the moon, and the first to visit in 40 years.
Now, we know that the name "Jade Rabbit" has a basis in Chinese mythology, and that it was chosen by Chinese Netizens. But, um, couldn't they have come up with something more awe-inspiring than "Jade Rabbit"? How about Ba She, the legendary elephant-eating snake? How about Li Bai, who wrote so beautifully about the charms of the full moon? Or even Bruce Lee? Now that would be cool. Just think about the radio transmission regarding the rover if that were its name: "Bruce Lee has landed on the moon." "Bruce Lee has smashed moon rocks to analyze their mineral content." "Bruce Lee is heading across the Sea of Tranquility."
Anyway, Hello Kitty Jade Rabbit's mission is set to last three months, so expect some kind of moon rover madness for the annual Spring Festival broadcast. Of course it's not a manned mission, but those CCTV guys certainly know good television.
What would you have named China's lunar rover? Leave us your idea in the Comments section below.
Photo: News.yahoo.com
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nickrr
Submitted by Guest on Mon, 12/16/2013 - 18:49 Permalink
Re: China's "Jade Rabbit" Lands on the Moon
How about other names for US spaceships and moon rovers named after western mythological characters He-man Apollo?
Apollo Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV)
I think Jade Rabbit is a great name.
Think of it as Lepus: The Sky Rabbit, that might inspire a bit more awe
There is also Ostara, "the goddess of the moon, fertility, and spring in Anglo–Saxon myth, was often depicted with a hare’s head or ears, and with a white hare standing in attendance. This magical white hare laid brightly colored eggs which were given out to children during spring fertility festivals — an ancient tradition that survives in the form of the Easter Bunny today."
BTW Steven The Little Mermaid's Father Poseidon is also a mythological creature. What a silly name for a submarine, eh?
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