Beijing, December 19 (Xinhua) — An asteroid has been officially named after renowned space technology specialist Qi Faren, the Chinese Academy of Space Technology informed, as reported by the Argentine News Agency. The designation was approved by the International Astronomical Union during a recent ceremony and honors one of the principal architects of China's space program. The celestial body, identified as asteroid 336877, was discovered by the Purple Mountain Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. IP The legacy of Qi Faren Qi was a key figure in the development of China's first satellite, Dongfanghong-1. He subsequently led the Dongfanghong-2 and Dongfanghong-3 projects and served as the chief designer of the Shenzhou manned spacecraft, making a decisive contribution to the consolidation of the Asian country's space station.
