Qian Xuesen: A Life Writing the Era

I. Basic Information

• Name: Qian Xuesen

• Gender: Male

• Birth Year: 1911

• Birthplace: Shanghai

• Occupation: Physicist

II. Main Experiences and Achievements

At the age of three, he moved to Beijing with his parents and spent his childhood and youth there.

In 1929, he was admitted to Chiao Tung University.

In 1934, he graduated from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Chiao Tung University and was awarded a Tsinghua University scholarship for study in the United States.

In 1935, he went to the United States to study in the Department of Aeronautics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

In 1936, he received a Master’s degree in Aeronautical Engineering from MIT and then transferred to the Department of Aeronautics at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech).

In 1939, he received a PhD in Aeronautics and Mathematics from Caltech.

In 1943, he became an Assistant Professor at Caltech.

In 1945, he became an Associate Professor at Caltech.

In 1947, he became a Professor at MIT.

In 1949, he became the Director and Professor of the Jet Propulsion Center at Caltech.

In 1954, the English edition of Engineering Cybernetics was published; the Russian, German, and Chinese editions were published in 1956, 1957, and 1958, respectively.

In 1980, the Revised Edition of Engineering Cybernetics was published.

In 1955, he returned to his motherland.

In 1956, he became the Director and Research Fellow of the Institute of Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). He worked at the Institute until around 1972. At the second plenary session of the Second National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), he was elected as a member of the Second National Committee.

In 1957, he received the First Prize of the CAS Natural Science Award (1956). He was elected as the first President of the Chinese Society of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics. In 1982, he was named Honorary President of the society. He served as the President of the Fifth Academy of the Ministry of National Defense and concurrently as the President of its First Branch (now the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology). At the second meeting of the CAS Academic Division Members (Academician), he was appointed as a CAS Academician. At the founding meeting of the International Federation of Automatic Control (IFAC) in Paris, he was elected as an Executive Director of the first council.

In 1958, he became the Chairman of the Department of Modern Mechanics at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC). Introduced by Du Runsheng and Yang Gangyi, he joined the Communist Party of China (CPC).

In 1959, he was elected as a delegate to the 2nd National People’s Congress (NPC), and subsequently to the 3rd, 4th, and 5th NPC.

In 1960, he became the Vice President of the Fifth Academy of the Ministry of National Defense and ceased to be the President of its First Branch. From then on, Qian Xuesen’s main positions were deputy roles—from Vice President of the Fifth Academy to Vice Minister of the Seventh Ministry of Machine Building, and then Vice Chairman of the National Defense Science and Technology Commission—focusing on major technical issues in the development of China’s national defense science and technology.

In 1961, he was elected as the first President of the Chinese Association of Automation.

In 1962, Lectures on Physical Mechanics was published.

In 1963, Introduction to Interplanetary Flight was published.

In 1965, he became the Vice Minister of the Seventh Ministry of Machine Building.

In 1968, he concurrently served as the President of the Fifth Academy of the PLA (now the China Academy of Space Technology).

In 1969, he was elected as a delegate to the 9th National Congress of the CPC and an alternate member of the 9th Central Committee. He was subsequently elected as a delegate to the 10th through 15th National Congresses and an alternate member of the 10th, 11th, and 12th Central Committees.

In 1970, he became the Vice Chairman of the National Defense Science and Technology Commission and ceased to be the President of the Fifth Academy of the PLA.

In 1979, the year formal diplomatic relations were established between China and the US, he was awarded the "Distinguished Alumni Award" by Caltech. However, Qian Xuesen did not go to the US to accept the honor. It was not until his 90th birthday in 2001 that his American friend, Professor Frank E. Marble, commissioned by Caltech President David Baltimore, traveled to Beijing to personally present the award certificate and medal. He was also elected as the Honorary President of the Chinese Society of Astronautics.

In 1980, he was elected as the Vice Chairman of the 1st National Committee of the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST).

In 1986, he was elected as the Chairman of the 3rd National Committee of CAST.

In 1991, at the first plenary session of the 4th National Committee of CAST, he was awarded the title of Honorary Chairman of CAST. He was also elected as the Honorary President of the Chinese Aerodynamics Research Society (renamed the Chinese Aerodynamics Society in 1989) and the Honorary President of the Systems Engineering Society of China.

In 1982, he became the Vice Chairman of the Science and Technology Commission of the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense (COSTIND). On Systems Engineering was published, with an enlarged edition in 1988.

In 1984, at the 5th CAS Academician Meeting, he was elected as the Executive Chairman of the CAS Presidium. In 1992, at the 6th CAS Academician Meeting, he was appointed as the Honorary Chairman of the CAS Presidium.

In 1985, for his contributions to China’s strategic missile technology, Qian Xuesen, as the primary recipient along with Tu Shoue, Yao Tongbin, Hao Fujian, Liang Sili, Zhuang Fenggan, and Li Xue’e, was awarded the Special Prize of the National Science and Technology Progress Award.

In 1986, at the 4th plenary session of the 6th National Committee of the CPPCC, he was elected as Vice Chairman of the 6th National Committee, and subsequently as Vice Chairman of the 7th and 8th National Committees.

In 1988, he concurrently served as the Chairman of the Science and Technology Committee of the 7th National Committee of the CPPCC. He received the 1985 National Science and Technology Progress Award (Special Prize). On the Science of Thinking was published.

In 1987, he was appointed as a Senior Advisor to the Science and Technology Commission of COSTIND. The Science and Systems Engineering of Socialist Modernization was published.

In 1988, On Somatic Science was published. Creating Somatic Science, A Comprehensive View of Somatic Science and Modern Technological Development, and On Somatic Science and Modern Technology were published in 1989, 1996, and 1998, respectively.

In 1989, he was awarded the "W. F. Rockwell Jr. Medal", the title of "World-Class Scientist and Engineer", and "Honorary Member of the International Institute of Science and Technology" by the International Conference on Technology and Technology Exchange and the International Institute of Science and Technology.

In 1991, he was awarded the honorary title of "State Outstanding Contribution Scientist" by the State Council and the Central Military Commission, and the First-Class Heroic Model Medal by the Central Military Commission. Collected Works of Qian Xuesen (1938–1956) was published.

In 1994, at the 1st CAE Academician Meeting, he was elected as an Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE). On Geographical Science and Urbanology and Shanshui City were published, with an enlarged edition of the latter in 1996.

In 1999, Shanshui City and Architectural Science (a sequel to the previous two books) and The Art of Science and the Science of Art were published.

In 1995, he received the inaugural (1994) "Ho Leung Ho Lee Foundation Excellence Award" (later renamed the "Ho Leung Ho Lee Foundation Science and Technology Achievement Award").

In 1996, on the occasion of the centenary of Chiao Tung University, the Qian Xuesen Library—the first library named after a Chinese scientist, with its name inscribed by General Secretary Jiang Zemin—was inaugurated at Xi’an Jiaotong University. The library is located in the New Century Square of the university.

In 1998, he was appointed as a Senior Advisor to the Science and Technology Commission of the PLA General Armament Department. At the 9th CAS Academician Meeting and the 4th CAE Academician Meeting, he was awarded the titles of "Senior Academician of CAS" and "Senior Academician of CAE".

In 1999, he was awarded the "Two Bombs, One Satellite Meritorious Medal" by the CPC Central Committee, the State Council, and the Central Military Commission.

In 2000, Qian Xuesen’s Manuscripts (1938–1955) was published.

In 2001, he received the second "Fok Ying Tung Outstanding Award" (China region) from the Fok Ying Tung Foundation. Approved by the International Minor Planet Center and the International Minor Planet Naming Committee, the asteroid with international number 3763, discovered by the Zijinshan Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, was officially named "Qian Xuesen Star". On Macro-architecture and Micro-architecture, Correspondence on the Sixth Industrial Revolution, and Creating Systematics were published. On December 11, General Secretary Jiang Zemin and Vice Premier Li Lanqing visited him. Previously, in 1995, 1996, and 1999, General Secretary Jiang Zemin had visited him at home three times.