Qian Xuesen (11 December 1911 – 31 October 2009) a famous scientist in modern China, is a member of Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of Engineering. He was bornin in Hangzhou City of Zhejiang Province in December 1911. Qian graduated form Shanghai Jiaotong University in 1934. In 1935, he went to the United State for advanced study in MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). After receiving master's degree in MIT, Qian went to study in California Institute of Technology under the supervision of Theodore von Karman, a leading research of areodynamics. In 1939, Qian received PhD degrees of both aerospace and mathematics and left the school to be a teacher, as well as a researcher studying the applied mechanics and rocket and missile theories. After returning to China in 1955, he lead the missle and space program in China. Historical documents in the U. S. commonly refer to him with the earlier family-name last spelling, Hsue-Shen Tsien or H.S. Tsien. Today, it is his 100th birthday. We commemorate his contributions both to China and US.
During the 1940s Qian was one of the founders of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory at the California Institute of Technology. During the Second Red Scare of the 1950s, the United States government accused Qian of having communist sympathies, and he was stripped of his security clearance in 1950. Qian then decided to return to China, but instead was detained at Terminal Island near Los Angeles. After spending 5 years under virtual house arrest, Qian was released in 1955, in exchange for the repatriation of American pilots captured during the Korean War. Notified by U.S. authorities that he was free to go, Qian immediately arranged his departure, leaving for China in September 1955, on the passenger liner SS President Cleveland of American President Lines, via Hong Kong.
After his return, Qian has served successively as director-general with the mechanics institute of Chinese Academy of Sciences, deputy director-general and director-general with the fifth research institute of the State Defense Ministry, vice chairman with the Seventh Design and Research Institute The Ministry of Machinery Industry, deputy director-general with the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense, president with the 3rd China Association for Science and Technology, vice president with the 6th to the 8th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). Currently, Qian is the senior consultant with the Commission of Science and Technology of the General Equipment Ministry of the People's Liberation Army, honorary president with China Association for Science and Technology. In 1957, Qian won the first prize of the natural science by Chinese Academy of Sciences, in 1979, the outstanding alumnus prize by California Institute of Technology, in 1985, first prize of national advanced technology awards, in 1989, the title of "World's Celebrity for Sciences and Engineering", and in 1991, China's outstanding scientist with outstanding achievements and the nation's first-grade medal for heroic models.
In 1956, Qian put forward "Proposal on the Development of China's Aviation Industry for National Defense" and assisted Zhou Enlai, the then premiere, and Marshal Nie Rongzheng to prepare the establishment of China's first missile and rocket R&D structure, the Fifth Research Institute of State Ministry of Defense. In October 1956, Qian assumed office of director-general with the fifth research institute. Henceforth, Qian has long been in charge of the chief technological officer with the R&D of China's missile, rocket and spacecraft, and has contributed greatly to the establishment and development of China's missile, rocket and spacecraft undertakings. Qian is a forerunner pioneering the development of China's aerospace science and technology. He has been honored as "Father of China's Missile" and "Father of China's Space Program".
I would guess not many ppl know about him here.
I would guess not many ppl know about him here.
That might depend on where "here" is.
I dunno about that; I've heard of him. I thought he was a fairly well-known figure in the missiles and rockets field, even in America - not on the level of von Braun and Korolev, but still a name some people have heard.
I just checked Wikipedia, and this quote rings a bell:
"It was the stupidest thing this country ever did. He was no more a Communist than I was, and we forced him to go." - Dan A. Kimball
Also, one of the spacecraft in 2010: Odyssey Two was named after him.
Think he's better known by the older romanization of his name, Hsue-Shen Tsien. That's the spelling Clarke used in the 2010 novel.
Surprised no one posted the link on here !
One of the founders of JPL/NASA and PRC's Missile and Space Program !