“大姐”不大，本事不小

河南 曹 輝

嫦娥登月譜新篇，不敬網(wǎng)紅敬英雄。 一起閱讀“嫦娥五號”探測器發(fā)射升空時，文昌發(fā)射場上最年輕的女指揮員——“大姐”周承鈺的故事。

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A 24-year-old female space commander has become a viral sensation on Chinese social media for her work on the Chang'e-5 Moon exploration programme.

Despite being the youngest commander at the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site, Zhou Chengyu is known as “Big Sister” as a sign of respect. Ms Zhou was in charge of the rocket connector system. Her story in particular has resonated （共鳴） with the public given her young age. Several people jokingly reflected on their own achievements, commenting how far behind in life they were in comparison.

The aim of the Chang'e-5, named after the Chinese moon goddess, is to gather lunar rocks and soil to help scientists learn more about the moon's formations. If successful, it would be the first in more than 40 years to bring lunar samples back to Earth, and it will make China the third country to do so after the United States and the Soviet Union.

Most Chinese know the story of the mythological Chang'e, the Chinese goddess of the moon. It's a story about a woman who drinks an immortality （永生） potion （藥飲）. Accidentally,she left none for her husband, and weightlessly,flew to the moon so she can stay close to him until he dies. It is told every year during China's Mid-Autumn Festival. However, people can't hear the word “Chang'e” without thinking of romantic images of a moon goddess. For this reason, China's mission to the moon was calling out for a strong female figure. Therefore, pictures of 2 4-year-old Zhou Chengyu have been all over state media, with comments about how she is a“frontline soldier in the field of aerospace” and a“Big Sister” that young Chinese can look up to.

China has been increasingly trying to highlight strong female figures in the country. However, some people in China still feel that role of women in the country is still underplayed in some special industries. This was a big talking point last September, when a TV drama highlighting women's roles in China's COVID-19 fight was widely viewed as sexist.

Reading Check

Apart from the factors mentioned in the text, can you think of any other factors that make Zhou Chengyu become a viral sensation on Chinese social media?

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