lˈɑːntʃt ˌɔn twˈɛnti ˈeɪt dᵻsˈɛmbɚ nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi tˈuː, ʃiː wʌz nˈeɪmd ˈæftɚ pˈeɪvəl mˈɑːltʃɐnˌɑːv, ɹˌeɪdɪoʊsˈɑːnd ɪnvˈɛntɚ, ˌɔn hɪz nˈaɪntiəθ ˌænɪvˈɜːsɚɹi.
Launched on 28 December 1982, she was named after Pavel Molchanov, radiosonde inventor, on his 90th anniversary.