Wan-Hoo crater is an impact crater of the far side of the moon. The fact we cannot see Wan-Hoo from Earth is somewhat fitting. The crater was named after “Wan Hu,” a legendary sixteenth century Chinese official who vanished in a most interesting way. He is considered the worlds first astronaut.
We may have a bit of trouble
sorting out legend from fact here, but the story is an interesting one.
Wan Hu fancied he might fly to
the Moon. In an attempt to get there, he
fixed forty-seven fireworks rockets to a wicker chair. Wan Hu sat in the chair and, on his command, had
forty-seven assistants with torches simultaneously light the fuses. The rockets ignited with a thunderous
sound. Smoke billowed in all directions.
When the smoke cleared, Wan Hu
and the chair were gone.
He was never seen again.
— Mitchell Hegman
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