Countless mourn father of China's space program

• Source: Global Times
• [02:58 November 02 2009]
• Comments

A mourner places a bouquet of flowers near the statue of Qian Xuesen located on the campus of the University of Science and Technology of China. Qian played a key role in developing the nation's first man-made satellite. Photo: CFP

By Qiu Wei

The country is mourning Qian Xuesen, a scientist who is considered the father of China's space program, who died Saturday.

Qian, also known as Tsien Hsue-shen, led the country's missile and aviation programs and played a significant role in developing China's first man-made satellite, the Xinhua News Agency said.

He died Saturday of natural causes at age 98. No other details were available and the funeral organizers could not be reached.

Two days before Qian's death, renowned biologist and founder of China's biophysics Pai Shitsan died at the age of 107, according to Xinhua.

China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT) engineer Yang Zhiguang told the Global Times that Qian made significant contributions to the control theory of rockets and missiles.

"Qian also laid the foundation of the country's aerodynamic studies," Yang said.

The academy, the nation's largest rocket research base, is considered the birthplace of China's space industry. Qian was the first president after it was founded in 1957.

Qian remained an educator, Yang said, referring to his determination to independently develop the space industry.

"China lost an outstanding scientist. The aerospace industry lost its founder and creator. Engineers lost a guide," said Wei Qiyong, a former student of Qian and a senior engineer at CALT, according to a document obtained from the academy.

Zhang Yiwu, a professor at Peking University, said that in addition to his contributions to sciences, Qian should also be remembered as a patriotic son

"Qian embedded the national interests into his fundamental values, placing national achievement ahead of his personal gain," Zhang said, adding that Qian's choice was a true reflection of the spirit of that era.

Qian, a Hangzhou native, left the country in 1935 for studies at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US. He later served as director of the Jet Propulsion laboratory at the California Institute of Technology and was regarded as one of the brightest minds in the new field of aeronautics, the AP reported, before returning to China in 1955.