Meritorious Person丨Sun Jiadong——the "Father of Satellites" who creates stars and fills the sky

April 8th is Academician Sun Jiadong’s birthday

Today, he is 94 years old.

Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Li He

39 years ago today

Following the order from the commander of the Xichang Satellite Launch Center

Long March 3 rocket

Carrying the "Dongfanghong-2" experimental communications satellite

Take off

my country's first geostationary communications satellite

The journey to space began

Served as the chief designer of the "Dongfanghong-2" satellite

It was Sun Jiadong

That day, he was 55 years old

I am over seventy years old but still not retired.

Still sending deep affection to the sky.

This is the award speech given to him by the organizing committee of the "Moving China" 2016 Person of the Year.

Although only a few words

But it tells of his legendary life in space

It takes 7 years to learn about airplanes, 9 years to build missiles, and 50 years to launch satellites.

Someone once counted

The first 100 satellites launched by China's space program

One third of them were launched under the leadership of Sun Jiadong

The first artificial earth satellite "Dongfanghong-1"

The first remote sensing satellite

The first recoverable satellite

The first lunar exploration satellite "Chang'e 1"

…

He personally participated

This is Sun Jiadong at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center (photo taken on December 15, 2010). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Mingfang

Aerospace is a very complex system engineering

Each project consists of satellites, rockets, launch sites,

It consists of several systems including measurement, control, communication, and application.

Each system has its own chief designer or commander-in-chief

Sun Jiadong is respected as the "Grand Master"

He led the Chinese astronauts to write and witness

Milestone after milestone in my country's space history

In 1958, Sun Jiadong returned from studying abroad

Assigned to the First Branch of the Fifth Research Institute of the Ministry of National Defense

Engaged in original missile work

An afternoon before Army Day in 1967

Sun Jiadong, who was studying the rocket blueprint, suddenly received a notice

Qian Xuesen directly named

Let him be the first man-made satellite of China

The person in charge of the overall design of "Dongfanghong-1"

Sun Jiadong is observing and analyzing the satellite's orbit. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Yang Wumin

Sun Jiadong accepted the order generously

After three years of hard work

April 24, 1970

China's first artificial satellite "Dongfanghong-1"

Rising from the desert

Let the melody of "The East is Red" resound through space

Someone praised: "Without Sun Jiadong's two tricks,

The satellite launch may have to wait for a few more years.”

"Dongfanghong-1" satellite. Xinhua News Agency file photo

1990s

Under the leadership of Sun Jiadong

China starts building BeiDou satellite navigation and positioning system

Initial design of BeiDou-2

Atomic clocks need to be imported

Other countries are unwilling to sell

Companies willing to sell will also propose unfair terms

At this time, Sun Jiadong said: "We have to do it ourselves!"

Today, all Beidou satellite equipment,

Raw materials and components

All of them have achieved 100% localization

Sun Jiadong leads the team

Completed the construction tasks of BeiDou-1 and BeiDou-2 in my country

And BeiDou-3 project establishment and demonstration

Explored a satellite navigation development path that suits national conditions

June 23, 2020

The final star of Beidou Navigation Global Network streaks across the sky

China's space industry

Thanks to the efforts of generations of astronauts

Keep reaching new heights

Beidou global network diagram Xinhua News Agency

In 2004, he served as the first chief designer of the lunar exploration project.

Sun Jiadong, 75 years old

Satellite enters deep space from Earth orbit

Facing daunting challenges

The pressure on Sun Jiadong's shoulders is self-evident

The then deputy chief designer of the lunar exploration project

Zhang Rongqiao, chief designer of my country's first Mars exploration mission, commented:

"He came here with great enthusiasm for China's space program."

At that time, he and the chief commander of China's Chang'e project

Luan Enjie, deputy commander-in-chief of China's manned space program

Ouyang Ziyuan, chief scientist of China's lunar exploration project

Known as the Iron Triangle of the Moon Exploration

Recalling more than 10 years ago

Chang'e-1 successfully enters lunar orbit

The moment of orbiting the moon

Ouyang Ziyuan couldn't hide his excitement

"Sun Jiadong and I hugged

I was excited by this matter

I can only say 'it's winding up'

China finally achieved

And I achieved my goal in one go.”

How many things can a person do in his lifetime?

Sun Jiadong never thought about this question

He said

"If the country needs me, I will do it."

Someone once asked Sun Jiadong: "Which one of the aerospace spirits is the most important?"

"Passion." He said without hesitation, "If you don't have passion, there is no struggle, dedication, rigor, collaboration, responsibility, innovation..."

Dreams are endless, steps never stop

Generations of astronauts carry on the tradition

Chasing the romantic and arduous dream of flying

Chinese astronauts have never stopped exploring

China's space industry will embrace a wider sea of ​​stars

I wish Mr. Sun a happy birthday and good health!

Comprehensive sources: Xinhuanet, People's Daily, CCTV.com, etc.