Qian Xuesen is widely recognized as the father of China’s aerospace industry.

2015年09月28日

Qian Xuesen is widely recognized as the father of China’s aerospace industry. He spent two decades studying and working in the United States, and made seminal contributions in applied mechanics, aeronautical engineering, jet propulsion, aerospace technology, engineering cybernetics and other fields. In the early years of the People’s Republic of China, Dr. Qian returned to the motherland and was highly acclaimed for his pioneering work in different areas of science and technology, particularly in founding and developing China’s space programs. He is an icon in the Chinese scientific community and among the Chinese scholars.


60 is a special number to Chinese as China’s traditional philosophy indicates that 60 years marks a cycle of life. Therefore, upon the 60th anniversary of Qian Xuesen’s homecoming in 2015, Qian Xuesen Library & Museum (QLM) specifically planned the exhibition in the United States, the very first time the exhibition took to the global stage. The exhibition intends to portray the life and legacy of Dr. Qian, to convey his enthusiasm for science and education, and to illustrate a few defining moments of his legendary life. The exhibition features numerous archives, documents and images of the scientist throughout his life and career. The special tribute includes his important awards and nominations: “State Scientist of Outstanding Contributions”, “two-bomb-one-satellite” medal (which honors 23 scientists for China’s first home-made nuclear bomb, ballistic missile and artificial satellite), Rockwell Jr. Medal, and “Distinguished Alumni of California Institute of Technology” medal.


The exhibition will last from 2nd to 9th October to Caltech and JPL community. For the general public, the opening hours are 11:00-20:00 October 3rd-4th; 17:00-20:00 5th-9th. 


This exhibition also falls on the occasion of the 11th Grand Alumni Reunion & the 8th Alumni Business Leader Summit of Chiao Tung University, for which QLM will be holding a special mini-exhibit for alumni in the Los Angeles Hilton Hotel on 3rd and 4th October.