 Initially, the space stations were to be named "Zarya", the Russian word for 'Dawn'.However, as the launch of the first station in the programme was prepared, it was realised that this would conflict with the call sign "Zarya" of the flight control centre (TsUP) in Korolyov – therefore the name of the space stations was changed to "Salyut" shortly before launch of "Salyut 1".Another explanation given is that the name might have offended the Chinese, who purportedly were preparing a new rocket for launch, which they had already named "Dawn".