This photo shows China's Tianwen 1 robotic probe as it enters Martian orbit on Feb 10, 2021. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINADAILY.COM.CN)
BEIJING – Three possible names for China's first Mars rover have come out after a 40-day global online poll.
The China National Space Administration in January unveiled a list of 10 selections for the name after a global naming campaign
"Zhurong," a fire god in ancient Chinese mythology, tops the list while "Nezha," a beloved Chinese mythological figure, and "Hongyi," which means having a broad and strong mind in Chinese, ranked second and third, respectively.
READ MORE: China's Tianwen 1 enters Mars parking orbit
The China National Space Administration in January unveiled a list of 10 selections for the name after a global naming campaign that kicked off in late July 2020. Netizens at home and abroad were invited to vote on 10 candidates from Jan. 20 to Feb. 28.
Starting Tuesday, a panel of experts will also vote for the final candidates. The administration will decide the top three names based on public voting and expert opinions.
ALSO READ: Tianwen 1 robotic probe enters orbit over polar region of Mars
China launched Tianwen-1 on July 23, 2020. The spacecraft, consisting of an orbiter, a lander and a rover, entered the parking orbit of Mars after performing an orbital maneuver on Feb. 24.