Mars mission

wsteinhu
 June 09, 2009, 12:12 PM posted in General Discussion

Reading about Yinghuo, new Mars probe, at http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2009-06/09/content_8261363.htm. Dictionary translates Yinghuo as either 硬货 yìng huò ( n. ) metallic coins or 荧惑 yíng huò ( v. ) to dazzle, confuse, mislead. Not likely. I suppose huo is 火 as in 火星. Is ying 濙 (v.) revolve, as in Mars Orbiter?

Profile picture
changye
 June 09, 2009, 12:45 PM

Here is a quotation from a recent news story about Chinese Mars mission. The name of the first Chinese Mars probe is "萤火" (dim light, firefly), which has the same pinyin, "ying huo", as 荧惑 (dazzle, Mars). Please be noted that 萤 and 荧 are two different characters.

火星在古代被称为‘荧惑’ (ying2huo4)，中国第一颗火星探测器取其谐音(homophony)，命名为‘萤火(ying2huo3)一号’。

http://tech.sina.com.cn/d/2009-06-08/09063157829.shtml