CMSA unveils official names for spacesuits and lunar vehicle in China's manned moon mission

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By Deng Xiaoci (Global Times) 16:33, February 12, 2025

The names of the lunar spacesuit and manned lunar vehicle reflect unique Chinese characteristics, contemporary spirit, and cultural significance, the CMSA said in a statement it provided to the Global Times on Wednesday.

Building on the public naming campaign for the new spacecraft in 2023, the CMSA launched naming campaigns for the lunar spacesuit and manned lunar vehicle in September and October 2024.

These initiatives garnered widespread attention and enthusiastic participation from society, with over 9,000 submissions received from organizations and individuals in the fields of aerospace, technology, and cultural communication. After expert selection and review, the lunar spacesuit was named Wangyu, and the manned lunar vehicle was named Tansuo, the CMSA said.

According to the agency, Wang Yu, meaning "Looking into the Universe," represents humanity's enduring curiosity and ambition to explore the vast cosmos. It resonates with the Feitian spacesuits used in China Space Station missions, signifying China's new journey to land on the moon and explore deep space, following the realization of the dream of "flying to space" and the establishment of a "space home."

Such naming also reflects China's steadfast commitment to peaceful space exploration and its contribution to building a community with a shared future for mankind, the CMSA explained.

Tansuo, meaning "Exploration," embodies the spirit of discovery and the drive to uncover the unknown, highlighting the core mission and application value of the lunar vehicle in helping China explore the moon's mysteries.

The name aligns closely with China's space dream of exploring the vast universe, advancing space development, and building a space power, showcasing the innovative spirit of China's manned space program as it relentlessly strives for new heights, the CMSA said.

At present, the Long March-10 carrier rocket, Mengzhou manned spacecraft, Lanyue lunar lander, lunar spacesuit, and manned lunar vehicle are in the initial prototype production and testing phase, with related ground trials progressing as planned. A series of ground facilities and equipment supporting these production and testing activities have been completed and are now operational, and construction at the Wenchang launch site is progressing as planned, the CCTV revealed.

Zhang Chongfeng, deputy chief designer of the manned spacecraft for China's Manned Space Program and a standing committee member of the Shanghai Academy of Spacecraft Technology science and technology committee, revealed to CCTV that the prototype of the manned lunar vehicle they developed has already completed experiments in a simulated lunar surface test environment, as well as extensive field experiments.

Currently, the manned lunar vehicle has entered the preliminary sample stage, and detailed design and subsequent engineering tests are underway, Zhang said.

The CCTV on Wednesday also released computer graphic footage illustrating the country's manned moon mission.

Video footage suggested taikonauts of the mission would ride the lunar vehicle and explore three different areas surrounding the landing site in three days.