Dear Dean, We Miss You So Much

2015年09月23日

Li Hong, Dean of China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT)

Liang Xiaohong, Secretary of the Communist Party Committee of China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT)


How to eulogize and remember a great man

Who is so significant for a nation and an era

On his 100th anniversary?

We thought about comparing him to the ocean, the sky,

The furious Yangtze River and Huanghe River,

The floating clouds over the top of mountains.

However, all of them seemed blank.

Why don’t we use the simplest language 

To express our true emotion?

Dear Dean, We miss you!


An unexpected big snowfall struck Beijing On November 1, 2009. We said goodbye to a great scientist Qian Xuesen that day. Taking the opportunity of the 100th birth anniversary of Qian Xuesen, we, several generations of aerospace specialists in No.1 Institute, gathered to commemorate and pay tribute to Mr. Qian, our late dean. Our memory of him has encouraged us to move on and make more accomplishments. 


Mr. Qian dedicated his life to the infinite outer space. The "Two-bombs, one-satellite" project (an atomic bomb, a hydrogen bomb and an artificial satellite) has made him a pride of China. His ambition in aerospace science never faded till the end of his life. Looking back on his life, he remained peaceful in mind. 


In 1957, Premier Zhou Enlai signed a Decree of the State Council, appointing Qian Xuesen Dean of No.5 Research Institute of the Ministry of National Defense of China. In November of the same year, the No.5 Research Institute was divided into two sub-institutes and Qian Xuesen was the dean of the No.1 sub-institute at the same time, responsible for the overall missile design and the development of projectile bodies and engines. It was the origin of No.1 Institute. As the first dean of No.1 Institute, Qian Xuesen officially started the long-term career as a leader of China’s rocket and missile technology and ignited the flame of China’s aerospace industry.


As we all know, China lacked both talens and resources then. Since modern technology in China was far behind than that in developed countries, rockets and missiles were still new to China at that time. Only a few scientists who had studied in the US and Russia had done some research in that field. As an expert in rocket and missile technology, Qian Xuesen was appointed as the responsible technological person in missile and satellite engineering in China's rocket project. Leading 175 people in the No.1 Institute at the beginning of its establishment, Qian Xuesen solved thousands of technological problems. Furthermore, he participated in the development of several types of missiles and accomplished many great achievements that surprised the world. In just over ten years, the cutting-edge technology in our national defense had accomplished a series of important breakthroughs and reached a high level that only a few developed countries had reached. He built a milestone for China's science and technology advancement in the history and laid a solid foundation for the development of China’s aerospace industry.


"In Qian Xuesen’s heart, the country always weighed more than his own family; science more than fame. It took him five years to finally return to China and ten years to complete the rocket project. He initiated the aerospace industry of China. As a pioneer, he swept all the difficulties aside and paved the way for the successors with his wisdom. He is a role model for the intellectuals of China as well as a treasure of knowledge and a flag of science."


Qian Xuesen was not only a scientist but also a master of systems science. Applying the theory of “systems engineering” into the organizational management of the missile team of No.1 Institute, Qian Xuesen established a "two generals" system (general model instructor and general designer), which became a role model of model development management. In this theoretical framework, he proposed a concept of "general design" and promoted to establish a general department responsible for macro guidance and system control management and the concept has been applied till now in order to guarantee the efficient and smooth operation of major projects. In terms of quality control, he said, “all the failures should be found out and eliminated on the ground”. Following a scientific experiment principle of being serious, careful, thoughtful, stable, reliable and safe proposed by Premier Zhou Enlai, he established a working style as "being rigorous, deliberate, detail-oriented and practical" and it has been a good virtue of No.1 Institute. 


Another important ideology that Qian Xuesen actively promoted is scientific democracy and academic democracy. He always emphasized that dictatorship should be abolished in scientific research and we should implement democracy and encourage independent thinking and telling the truth. "I don’t have any superior methods but implementing real democratic centralism." During research and experiments, he always called on general engineers including Ren Xinmin, Tu Shou'e, Huang Weilu and Liang Shoupan together every Sunday afternoon to discuss major technological problems. He encouraged everyone to talk as much as they wanted and to make use of the team's wisdom and strength to solve the problems. He was glad to find real talents and to provide growth opportunities to them. At the beginning of the establishment of No.1 Institute, he was the dean and teacher who taught missile theory to new college graduates. He compiled his own textbook and tutored in person. 


Going back to China regardless of various difficulties, Qian Xuesen showed rigidity as a Chinese scientist. Developing rockets, missiles, mechanics and jet propulsion, he showed the tenacity as a scientist in research. He successfully launched four atomic bombs and a Changzheng serial rocket within eight years, laying a foundation for China’s missile and rocket industry. The two industries founded by the "father of missile in China" have been advancing in powerful momentum.  


In 2010, the Changzheng carrier rocket had been launched 15 times, parallel with the US as second in the world. The aerospace launching technology had almost reached the leading level in the world. In the same year, No.1 Institute accomplished the 100th carrier rocket launch, creating a historical record. With the first launch of a new generation of carrier rocket, a model spectrum of a new generation of carrier rocket will come into being. The carrier rocket industry of China will enter a new era to be parallel with USA and Russia. 


Qian Xuesen was born when the imperial system was subverted and he grew up in a time of turmoil. He finally accomplished his ambition in new China. He made extraordinary contributions to human advancement in aerospace science with conscientiousness and deligence . Indifferent to fame and true to himself, he has a real personality of a scientist. 


Although Qian Xuesen has left us, his scientific thinking and spirit have been with No.1 Institute. Inhering the spirit of Mr. Qian, the father of missile, the career founded by him has been sustained. If we put China's aerospace industry of today in the historical background of the 5000-year development of a civilized country as well as the background of China seeking for renaissance, and in the grand layout of fierce international competition, we can see our position in a clearer way. 


Aerospace industry development never has an end. The Changzheng rocket is still on its way and a strong country in aerospace is rising. 


Long live Mr. Qian Xuesen!


(Published in Page 013 of People's Daily on December 9, 2011)