Qi Faran talks about China’s 70 years of aerospace: A powerful aerospace country must have the ability to lead the world

China News Service, Beijing, September 23 (Reporter Ma Shuaisha) Qi Faren, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and the first chief designer of the Shenzhou spacecraft, said in Beijing on the 22nd that the most important ability of a space power is to lead the development of the world's aerospace industry. It has a forward-looking strategic vision and can see what it will do in the next two to thirty years.

On the same day, a symposium of veteran leaders and experts to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of China's aerospace industry was held in Beijing. Qi Faren was interviewed after the meeting.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of China's aerospace industry. Qi Faren joined the aerospace industry in 1957, 69 years ago. He is over 90 years old and has experienced and witnessed China's aerospace industry. From China's first missile "Dongfeng 1" to the first artificial satellite "Dongfanghong 1", from the first unmanned test spacecraft Shenzhou 1 to the first manned spacecraft Shenzhou 5, he is behind many "firsts" in China's aerospace industry.

In manned spaceflight, human life is at stake. In 1992, China’s manned space program was launched. Qi Faren, 59, took over the important task of chief engineer of the Shenzhou spacecraft. "I have received many awards over the decades. But I think the highest award is when Yang Liwei said to me, 'China's spaceships are awesome' after he came back. I will never forget this sentence. It left a deep impression on me," Qi Faren said.

Qi Faren said that over the past 70 years, China's aerospace industry has achieved a leap from scratch, from small to large, and is now moving towards the goal of becoming a powerful aerospace country. Many countries in the world already have the ability to "upgrade", but only a few countries can achieve the technology to "get back". China has not only enabled astronauts to travel to and from space, but has also retrieved samples from the front and back of the moon.

He cited the Chang'e-6 mission's world's first lunar back sample return as an example. In the past, we did not have what others had. After 70 years of development, we now basically have what others have, and we are still ahead in some aspects.

"Building a powerful aerospace nation is an arduous task that relies on young people. China has a large number of dedicated young people, which is one of our greatest advantages." Qi Faren said that the most important ability of a powerful aerospace nation is to lead the development of the world's aerospace industry, have a forward-looking strategic vision, and be able to see what to do in the next 20 to 30 years. It reflects the collective wisdom and level of Chinese astronauts.