In 1950, Dan A. Kimball, the Under Secretary of the U.S. Navy, said: “Wherever he goes, he is worth five divisions of troops. I would rather shoot him in the United States than let him leave!”
Whether or not you are focused on science, I believe you have heard this sentence. This was spoken by Dan A. Kimball, the Under Secretary of the U.S. Navy, in 1950 when he was trying his best to prevent Qian Xuesen, who was in the United States, from returning to China. Qian Xuesen was a pioneer and outstanding representative of China’s aerospace science and technology industry, hailed as the “Father of Chinese Aerospace” and the “King of Rockets.” However, I must now share a heartbreaking piece of news with all our friends: This superstar of Chinese science fell today in Beijing! He was 98 years old.
“I have always believed that I would definitely be able to return to my motherland. Today, I have finally returned!” These were the deeply emotional words spoken by the famous Chinese scientist and rocket expert Qian Xuesen to Comrade Zhu Zhaoxiang, a representative of the Chinese Academy of Sciences who received him, when he arrived in Guangzhou on October 8, 1955. Under the care of Premier Zhou Enlai, Qian had embarked on his return journey on September 17, 1955, and reached Hong Kong on October 1. Returning with him were his wife and two young children.
Qian Xuesen dedicated his life to China’s aerospace science and technology. Just this year, on August 19, at the founding ceremony of the China Aerospace Science and Industry Information Technology Research Institute, the 98-year-old Mr. Qian sent a special congratulatory letter. Premier Wen Jiabao also made a special visit to Mr. Qian’s home on August 6. At that time, Mr. Qian was in good spirits and had a cordial conversation with Premier Wen, who sat by his bedside.
Despite his advanced age, Qian Xuesen insisted on reading newspapers every day and remained concerned about national affairs. On that day, Mr. Qian smiled and told the Premier, “I will live to be 100,” and after recalling his experience of returning from studying abroad, he stated, “In China, there is more development and achievement than abroad.”
A Great Hero of China
Qian Xuesen was born on December 11, 1911, in Hangzhou, Zhejiang. From 1935 to 1939, he studied in the Department of Aeronautical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he earned his Master’s degree. From 1936 to 1939, he studied in the Department of Aeronautics and Mathematics at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), where he earned his Doctorate. Starting in 1949, he served as the Director and Professor of the Jet Propulsion Center at Caltech.
In 1955, Qian Xuesen broke through numerous obstacles to return to China, dedicating himself to the motherland’s scientific and technological cause. He was also the founder and advocate of modern mechanics and systems engineering theory and application research in China.
In 1956, based on the suggestions in his “Proposal for China’s Defense Aviation Industry,” the State Council and the Central Military Commission established the Aviation Industry Committee—a leading body for missile and aviation research—and Qian Xuesen was appointed as a member. In the same year, he was ordered to establish China’s first rocket and missile research institute, the Fifth Academy of the Ministry of National Defense, and served as its first president.
Under his leadership, the planning for the “Establishment of Jet and Rocket Technology” in China was successfully completed. He participated in the development of short-range missiles, medium-short-range missiles, and China’s first artificial earth satellite. Qian Xuesen directly led the “Two Bombs Integration” test (carrying an atomic bomb with a medium-short-range missile), participated in formulating China’s first development plan for interplanetary flight, and established engineering cybernetics and systems science.
Qian Xuesen received countless honors throughout his life. These include the First Class Natural Science Award of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1957; the Distinguished Alumni Award from Caltech in 1979; the “Two Bombs, One Star” Meritorious Medal awarded by the CPC Central Committee, the State Council, and the Central Military Commission in 1999; and the “Highest Honor Award for 50 Years of China’s Aerospace Industry” in 2006. His works include Engineering Cybernetics, On Systems Engineering, and Introduction to Interplanetary Flight.
On September 10 of this year, in the selection activity for “100 Heroic Models Who Made Outstanding Contributions to the Founding of New China and 100 Figures Who Moved China Since the Founding of New China,” jointly organized by 11 departments including the Publicity Department and the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee, Qian Xuesen was selected as one of the “100 Figures Who Moved China Since the Founding of New China.”
Qian Xuesen’s Resume
A native of Hangzhou, Zhejiang, born in Shanghai, Han ethnicity. He joined the Communist Party of China in August 1959. Holding a doctoral degree, he was hailed as the “Father of Chinese Missiles,” the “Father of Chinese Rockets,” and the “King of Missiles.” In 2007, he was named a figure who “Moved China.”
Qian Xuesen proposed extremely important implementation plans for the development of China’s rocket and missile technology. From April 1958, he long served in technical leadership positions for the development of rockets, missiles, and spacecraft, making significant contributions to the development of China’s rocket, missile, and aerospace industries. Qian Xuesen served as Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), a member of the Division of Mathematics and Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Honorary President of the Chinese Society of Astronautics, and Chairman of the China Association for Science and Technology. In October 1991, the State Council and the Central Military Commission awarded him the honorary title of “State Scientist of Outstanding Contribution” and the First-Class Heroic Model Medal.
Born on December 11, 1911, in Hangzhou, Zhejiang.
1929–1934: Studied in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Chiao Tung University.
1935–1939: Studied in the Department of Aeronautical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
1955: Returned to China. From 1955 to 1964, served as Director and Researcher of the Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and President of the Fifth Academy of the Ministry of National Defense.
1965–1970: Served as Vice Minister of the Seventh Ministry of Machine Building.
1970–1982: Served as Vice Chairman of the China Association for Science and Technology.
Qian Xuesen: “My surname is Qian (Money), but I do not love money”
Patriotism
“My career is in China, my achievements are in China, and my home is in
China.”
“During my time in the United States, people asked me several times if I
had saved any insurance money. I said I wouldn’t save a single dollar.
Because I am Chinese, I never intended to live in the United States for
my whole life.”
“My first three or four years in the United States were for study, and
the next dozen years were for work. All of this was preparation, so that
I could do something for the people after returning to the motherland.
Because I am Chinese.”
Character
“My surname is Qian, but I do not love money.”
“I personally am just a drop in the ocean; what is truly great is the
Party, the people, and our country.”
Scholarship
“Do people who do science only need data and formulas? People who do
science also need inspiration, and much of my inspiration comes from
art.”
“I believe that today’s science and technology is not just natural
science and engineering technology, but the entire knowledge system of
human understanding and transformation of the objective world, and the
highest summary of this system is Marxist philosophy.”
“We cannot just repeat what others say; that is not the scientific
spirit. The most important thing in the scientific spirit is
innovation.”
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