Source: Website of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission

On April 24, at the online launching ceremony of the 2020 China Space Day, the China National Space Administration announced that China's planetary exploration missions have been named the "Tianwen" series. The first Mars exploration mission is designated Tianwen-1, and subsequent planetary missions will be numbered in sequence.

"Tianwen" is the official name of China's first Mars exploration mission. It is also the title of a long classic poem composed by Qu Yuan, a prominent romantic poet in ancient China. In this poem, Qu Yuan posed profound questions about the universe, nature, human society and all worldly phenomena.

"Who handed down the truths at the dawn of time?When heaven and earth were yet unformed, how could they be defined..."

Facing the vast and unknown cosmos, Qu Yuan voiced his inquiries and expressed his persistent pursuit of truth.

The logo for China’s first Mars exploration mission, "Lanjing Jiutian" (Embracing Stars Across the Firmament), takes the China Planetary Exploration Project as its core concept. The overall tilted and upward design features dynamic flowing lines and a powerful upward momentum, symbolizing the spirit of pursuing dreams and daring to explore.

The eight planets of the solar system are arranged in order, each presented with its unique characteristic color. Embedded on a C-shaped orbit, the planets shine like diamonds in the starry sky, embodying the Chinese nation’s aspiration to reach for the stars.

Elliptical open orbits together form a distinctive letter "C", which embodies three layers of implications. First, it stands for China, signifying that planetary exploration is carried out by China. Second, it represents Cooperation, reflecting the spirit of collaborative breakthroughs and win‑win cooperation. Third, it refers to C3, the core physical parameter in the design of planetary exploration projects and a key indicator of the launch vehicle’s deep-space transport capacity as well as the probe’s capability to reach extraterrestrial spaces.

The pursuit of ancient people echoes the exploration of modern times through the name "Tianwen". It is reported that a Mars probe will be launched within this year to accomplish the orbital circling, landing and roving exploration missions on Mars. This marks a milestone in China’s aerospace industry and a new starting point for the nation’s deep-space exploration journey.(Source: Website of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission)