2019年CRI Sun Jiadong：Chief engineer of Dongfanghong 1

 

The Medal of the Republic is China's highest honor. It's awarded to prominent figures who have made great contributions to the construction and the development of the People's Republic of China. As part of our series on the Republic honor laureates, CRI's Guo Yan brings us the story of Sun Jiadong. He's the chief designer of China's first satellite and has witnessed all of the significant moments in the history of China's aerospace¹ exploration.

The moment when the melody of "Dongfanghong", "The East is Red", was broadcast in space nearly half a century ago is an indelible memory in the mind of China's top space scientist, Sun Jiadong. Sun was the technical director of the Dongfanghong 1, the country`s first man-made satellite, which was successfully launched on April 24, 1970. The 90-year-old says his excitement was beyond words when he first heard the melody and realized that his hard work had paid off.

"I remember when word came through that the satellite was launched successfully. People flocked to Tian'anmen Square, it was buzzing with excitement and joy. We are very proud of that. I took part in the project, and I experienced all of the ups and downs along the way to success."

Sun Jiadong is widely acclaimed² as a pioneer in research into man-made satellite and deep space exploration, a field the engineer has dedicated³ himself to for six decades. His work has helped China to make remarkable⁴ achievements in space exploration, from launching its first man-made satellite, to its lunar exploration program and launching the Beidou satellite navigation system.

In 1958, Sun graduated as a straight-A student from an air force engineering academy in the Soviet⁵ Union, and became a missile researcher. 9 years later, thanks to his outstanding performance, Sun was put forward to be the chief designer of China's first man-made satellite.Sun said that back then, China's early space explorers faced tough research conditions and limited resources.

"After China unveiled its reform and opening up policy, the then NASA administrator⁶ came to China for a visit. I remember him asking me, how did we manage to conduct our experiments under such poor conditions? That visit was in the 1980s, when our research environment had already been greatly improved. You can imagine what the conditions were like in the 1950s and 60s."

But alongside the moments of glory, there have also been dark hours.In 1974, China's first recoverable satellite exploded right after the carrier rocket blasted off from the launch pad. Sun was in charge of the project.

"We got to the site immediately, only to find it engulfed⁷ by fire. My mind was totally blank. I was a little bit emotional, I think. For three days and nights, we stayed there in the freezing Gobi Desert, and searched through the wreckage⁸ of the space craft to collect even the tiny stuff, like threads of wire and screws. We finally found that the fault was caused by a break in a tiny thread of wire."

Sun said the team learned from the incident, and put more emphasis on the finer details of their work, as a little neglect breeds mischief⁹, while quality always prevails.

"We stressed quality from the source, from the very beginning of any project we conducted. All of the materials and components¹⁰ made by us or our partners should be carefully examined. We gradually established a sound and stringent¹¹ work system that ensures not a single link is neglected and to secure quality products."

Chen Minkang is the chief designer of one of the Long March series of carrier rockets. He said he admires Sun's courage to face the difficulties of his work head on.

"Despite his age and physical condition, he always goes to the site of the major launch missions he's in charge of. He has a great sense of responsibility for every tiny detail of his work, and always sticks to his principles."

Despite having already earned numerous honors, Sun's pursuit of space exploration has never ceased. In 2004, when he was 75 years old, he took part in China's lunar exploration project. After years of tough work, Sun and his team launched China's first lunar probe, Chang'e-1, into orbit around the moon.

When the space craft reached its orbit, Sun burst into tears amid a cheering crowd.

"At that moment, I felt so proud, words couldn't describe it. It brought me a strong sense of accomplishment¹² to be a member of that team, and to be a part of such a vital mission for the country."

The prominent scientist Ouyang Ziyuan is a former chief of the lunar probe project. He said he was impressed by the optimistic attitude Sun always brought to his work.

"He once said to me some people tend to make a simple matter complicated, while engineers always simplify complicated issues, and go all out to resolve the problems that they encounter."

Sun's dream to reach the far side of the moon was accomplished¹³ with China's Chang'e-4 probe, when it made its historic landing there in January. The success of that project is deemed a critical step towards China's bigger dreams of space exploration. President Xi Jinping once said, "All of the achievements we have made today come from concrete actions, not empty words."

This lesson is certainly true of China's achievements in space exploration, which are the result of a lifetime of dedication¹⁴ by scientists and engineers like Sun Jiadong, who looked to the sky to pursue their dreams, and reached for the stars.

1 aerospace   

adj.航空的，宇宙航行的

参考例句：

• The world's entire aerospace industry is feeling the chill winds of recession.全世界的航空航天工业都感受到了经济衰退的寒意。
• Edward Murphy was an aerospace engineer for the US Army.爱德华·墨菲是一名美军的航宇工程师。

2 acclaimed   

adj.受人欢迎的

参考例句：

• They acclaimed him as the best writer of the year. 他们称赞他为当年的最佳作者。
• Confuscius is acclaimed as a great thinker. 孔子被赞誉为伟大的思想家。

3 dedicated   

adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的

参考例句：

• He dedicated his life to the cause of education.他献身于教育事业。
• His whole energies are dedicated to improve the design.他的全部精力都放在改进这项设计上了。

4 remarkable   

adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的

参考例句：

• She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
• These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。

5 Soviet   

adj.苏联的，苏维埃的；n.苏维埃

参考例句：

• Zhukov was a marshal of the former Soviet Union.朱可夫是前苏联的一位元帅。
• Germany began to attack the Soviet Union in 1941.德国在1941年开始进攻苏联。

6 administrator   

n.经营管理者，行政官员

参考例句：

• The role of administrator absorbed much of Ben's energy.行政职务耗掉本很多精力。
• He has proved himself capable as administrator.他表现出管理才能。

7 engulfed   

v.吞没，包住( engulf的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He was engulfed by a crowd of reporters. 他被一群记者团团围住。
• The little boat was engulfed by the waves. 小船被波浪吞没了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 wreckage   

n.（失事飞机等的）残骸，破坏，毁坏

参考例句：

• They hauled him clear of the wreckage.他们把他从形骸中拖出来。
• New states were born out of the wreckage of old colonial empires.新生国家从老殖民帝国的废墟中诞生。

9 mischief   

n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹

参考例句：

• Nobody took notice of the mischief of the matter. 没有人注意到这件事情所带来的危害。
• He seems to intend mischief.看来他想捣蛋。

10 components   

（机器、设备等的）构成要素，零件，成分； 成分( component的名词复数 )； [物理化学]组分； [数学]分量； （混合物的）组成部分

参考例句：

• the components of a machine 机器部件
• Our chemistry teacher often reduces a compound to its components in lab. 在实验室中化学老师常把化合物分解为各种成分。

11 stringent   

adj.严厉的；令人信服的；银根紧的

参考例句：

• Financiers are calling for a relaxation of these stringent measures.金融家呼吁对这些严厉的措施予以放宽。
• Some of the conditions in the contract are too stringent.合同中有几项条件太苛刻。

12 accomplishment   

n.完成，成就，（pl.）造诣，技能

参考例句：

• The series of paintings is quite an accomplishment.这一系列的绘画真是了不起的成就。
• Money will be crucial to the accomplishment of our objectives.要实现我们的目标，钱是至关重要的。

13 accomplished   

adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的

参考例句：

• Thanks to your help,we accomplished the task ahead of schedule.亏得你们帮忙,我们才提前完成了任务。
• Removal of excess heat is accomplished by means of a radiator.通过散热器完成多余热量的排出。

14 dedication   

n.奉献，献身，致力，题献，献辞

参考例句：

• We admire her courage,compassion and dedication.我们钦佩她的勇气、爱心和奉献精神。
• Her dedication to her work was admirable.她对工作的奉献精神可钦可佩。