China’s spacecrafts were the first to land on the moon since 1976. Weibo loves drawing fan art of them.
Reuters Tv / Reuters
On Saturday, China's Chang'e Number 3 became the first spacecraft to successfully land on the moon since 1976. Over the coming months, its lunar rover (named Yutu, or Jade Rabbit) will be collecting soil samples from areas previously unexplored by the U.S. and Russia.
Chinese social media lauded the landing, moreso because the spacecrafts were named after beloved mythological figures.
The main ship is named after Chang'e, a reluctant goddess believed to have married a heroic archer before accidentally drinking his immortality potion and floating to the moon.
The spacecraft's rover is named after the Jade Rabbit, Chang'e's only companion in her lunar palace.
Chang'e regretted her isolation on the moon, and spent her time grinding up more medicine with the Jade Rabbit.
Kevin Tang
