1One day in August, 935, Qian Xuesen left the motherland from Shanghai on a ship of the American Postal Company. The muddy waves of Huangpu River rolled and looked at the gradually blurred Shanghai City. Qian Xuesen silently said: "Goodbye, motherland. Now that you're in power, you're in a mess. I went to the United States to study technology and will come back one day to help you revive. "
Qian Xuesen went to the United States to enter the aviation department of MIT, and his academic performance has always been among the best. He had to practice in a factory to study engineering, but at that time, the American aviation factory discriminated against China people, so a year later he began to study aviation engineering theory, that is, applied mechanics. He transferred to California Institute of Technology.
Qian Xuesen came here with admiration. Because, in Pasadena, a suburb of Los Angeles, there is a famous professor of aerodynamics-von Carmen. He is Hungarian.
In the early 1930s, aviation science was still in its infancy. Von Carmen was a top figure in this field at that time, and was later known as "the father of supersonic flight". 1970, there was a crater on the moon named after him.
Von Carmen looked at the serious and short young man carefully. He asked several questions for Qian Xuesen to answer, and Qian Xuesen answered all his questions after a little thought. Von Carmen secretly praised: This China man is witty and full of wisdom. He accepted the student happily.
Qian Xuesen became a graduate student of Guggenheim Aviation Laboratory led by Carmen. This laboratory later became the cradle of American rocket technology, and Qian Xuesen was one of the first three members to conduct rocket technology research here.
The study and research work are very tense. Qian Xuesen works more than ten hours a day, studies for half a day, discusses for half a day, and continues to struggle at night. Three years later, he got his doctorate with honors, stayed in school to teach, and became von Carmen's right-hand man. During this period, he not only mastered the basic knowledge of aerodynamics, but also stood at the forefront of this science. From 65438 to 0939, he studied the aviation structure and made a breakthrough in just one year.
In the second year of California Institute of Technology, Qian Xuesen met his classmate F.J. Marin, who studied rocket technology. Introduced by Marina, Qian Xuesen participated in the Marxism-Leninism study group of California Institute of Technology at that time, and met Weinbaum, secretary of the group and assistant researcher of chemical physics. In the group, Qian Xuesen studied Engels' anti-Turin theory with everyone; Current affairs are often discussed at the weekly meeting. 1938 In the winter, after the outbreak of World War II, this group was dissolved.
In view of the outstanding achievements of Qian Xuesen's research work and the needs of American wartime military scientific research, he was able to participate in the secret work. 1944, the U.S. military entrusted Professor von Carmen as the head and Marina as the deputy to study long-range rockets. Qian Xuesen was in charge of the theoretical group, and invited Lin Jiaqiao and Qian Weichang to conduct ballistic analysis, combustion chamber heat conduction and combustion theory research. At the same time, Qian Xuesen also served as the technical consultant of air jet Company. 1945 was also hired as a member of the scientific advisory panel by the US Air Force. During this period, he gained valuable experience in the scientific research of modern mechanics and jet propulsion and became an outstanding scientist with high reputation at that time.
At the end of World War II, the US Air Force highly praised Qian Xuesen's contribution to the victory of the war.
Great contribution. Milton Viorst, an American columnist, believes that Qian Xuesen has always been "a key figure in making a long-term plan to transform the US Air Force from a propeller plane into a jet plane and eventually into an unmanned spacecraft traveling in space" and "a brilliant star in the galaxy of scientists who helped the United States become a world-class military power".
1946 In the summer, Qian Xuesen left California Institute of Technology and went to MIT as an associate professor to teach graduate students majoring in aerodynamics. 1947 At the beginning of this year, 36-year-old Qian Xuesen became a tenured professor at MIT. In the summer of the same year, Qian Xuesen asked for leave to visit relatives in China. In September, he married Jiang Ying (now a professor at the Central Conservatory of Music). Jiang Ying, the third daughter of Jiang Baili, a famous military theorist in early China, was a soprano, and received a good music education in Vienna and Berlin.
From 1935 to 1955, Qian Xuesen lived in the United States for 20 years. During this period, he made brilliant academic achievements, enjoyed generous treatment in life and had convenient conditions at work. However, he is always attached to the motherland where he was born and raised. In his letter to his father, he lamented more than once, "When will the tourism career end?" .
The irresistible pace of returning to China.
1949 On the Mid-Autumn Festival night, in a street garden opposite the school gate of California Institute of Technology, Qian Xuesen, his wife Zhuang Fenggan, Luo and other dozens of China students celebrated the traditional festivals of the motherland.
Mid-Autumn Festival every year, but it's different now. This year's Mid-Autumn Festival is the sixth day after the birth of New China. Qian Xuesen shared his homesickness with you and raised a glass to bless the bright future of the motherland. His long-cherished wish buried in his heart turned into a strong idea: to return to the motherland as soon as possible and contribute all his strength to the construction of the motherland!
According to the relevant regulations, you can only dismiss your job at the end of a school year. Qian Xuesen is anxiously looking forward to the summer of 1950. There are unexpected events in the sky. At the beginning of 1950, China and the United States were in a state of war hostility on the Korean battlefield, and McCarthyism prevailed in the United States. There has been hysteria in the United States that requires employees to be loyal to the government, and many people have begun to be pursued and persecuted.
Caltech has inevitably received attention. When the FBI searched the campus, Qian Xuesen was questioned unreasonably. Because Weinbaum was a friend of Qian Xuesen, his imprisonment brought disaster to Qian Xuesen. 1950 in July, the U.S. government decided to disqualify him from participating in confidential research, accusing him of being from party member and entering the country illegally. Under this circumstance, Qian Xuesen decided to return to China immediately in the name of visiting relatives without waiting for the arrival of the summer vacation, and never came back.
Qian Xuesen first went to Washington and came to the Pentagon office where Daniel Day kimble was located. Kimble is the undersecretary of the navy. After telling kimble about the current situation, Qian Xuesen solemnly announced: "In view of this, I am ready to leave for home."
Kimble was shocked. He believes that "Qian Xuesen is worth five divisions no matter where he is." As soon as Qian Xuesen left, he immediately called the Immigration Bureau and said, "I would rather shoot him than let him leave the United States!" "
1At midnight on August 23rd, 950, Qian Xuesen's family flew back to Los Angeles from Washington. As soon as I got off the plane, an official from the Immigration Bureau greeted me and handed Qian a so-called document. According to the document, according to the law, Qian Xuesen cannot leave the United States. It turned out that Qian Xuesen was going to leave the United States on the plane of Canada Pacific Company. His luggage has also been loaded on the barge, ready to be shipped back to China.
Under this unprovoked persecution, Qian Xuesen had to return to California Institute of Technology. The FBI sent someone to monitor his family and follow all his actions.
At the same time, the US Customs illegally detained all Qian Xuesen's luggage. When the inspectors found that the crate was full of more than 800 kilograms of books and notebooks, they insisted that there were secrets in it, claiming that
"All the activities of this cunning China man prove that he is Mao's spy." As a result, some rumors tools in the United States released sensational news to the world, and a "* * * spy" tried to leave the United States with confidential documents. However, after a long and repeated inspection, these guys found nothing. The inspectors have to admit in the official report that the books and notes inspected are all Qian Xuesen's own academic research records, except the articles in scientific magazines that were taught to copy.
However, on September 9th, Qian Xuesen was suddenly and illegally arrested by the FBI. The trumped-up charge was still "attempting to transport secret scientific documents back to China" and he was declared an "unwelcome dissident". Qian Xuesen was detained in the detention center on Temina Island. The guard forbade him to talk to anyone. Every night, he runs indoors and turns on the light every 10 minute, which makes him unable to rest. After 15 days of torture and persecution, he lost 30 Jin. The inhuman detention caused him more serious mental damage than his body.
All people who love peace and justice in the world have the same heart. Many teachers and students of California Institute of Technology and Professor Von Carmen, who was far away in Europe at that time, immediately protested strongly to the US Immigration Service, and raised bail of 15000 US dollars before Qian Xuesen was rescued.
However, the persecution is not over. Qian Xuesen's actions are restricted and monitored everywhere, and the Immigration Bureau clearly stipulates that his activities are not allowed to go beyond Los Angeles. FBI agents have been watching him, often breaking into his research room and making trouble at home. His letters and phone calls were also checked.
During his five years in the United States, Qian Xuesen lived in seclusion and rarely met his friends in order to reduce their troubles. But he didn't relax about academic research. 1954 published the book engineering cybernetics.
1one day in June, 955, Qian Xuesen and his wife got rid of the spy's surveillance. In a letter sent to relatives in Belgium, they put a letter written on a small cigarette paper to Mr. Chen Shutong, asking the motherland to help him return to China as soon as possible. On the day Mr. Chen Shutong received the letter, he gave it to Premier Zhou Enlai. Premier Zhou attached great importance to this, and immediately instructed him to send this letter to China's ambassador to Poland, Wang Bingnan, and instructed him to fight for the rescue of Qian Xuesen in the Sino-US ambassadorial talks. On August 5, Qian Xuesen received a notice from the American government that he could "return to China", but he was still treated as a prisoner on his way home by American mail.
1955 September 17, Qian Xuesen and their two children finally arrived in the motherland of the East.
Founder of China Satellite Industry
After Qian Xuesen returned to the motherland, he received meticulous care and great attention from the party and the government. The desire for the new China to be strong at an early date prompted him to write to Premier Zhou and put forward a plan to develop China's missile technology.
In April, an unusual meeting of the Central Military Commission was held in the General Staff Building of the People's Liberation Army in China, presided over by Premier Zhou. The central topic of the meeting was Qian Xuesen's introduction to China's planning ideas for developing missile technology. Looking at so many kind eyes of the supreme military of the Republic, a sense of sacred mission arises spontaneously.
1956, 10 year10.8, China's first missile research institute was announced, with Qian Xuesen as its president. From then on, under the direct leadership of Premier Zhou and Marshal Nie, Qian Xuesen began his career in rocket, missile and space technology in the new China. On this day, the autumn is crisp and the autumn wind is pleasant. The energetic Qian Xuesen gave 156 college graduates the first "Introduction to Missiles" class. It is Qian Xuesen's dream for many years to personally train China's specialized technical personnel engaged in missiles. Today, his dream came true. How can he not be excited and proud? In a few years, these trained college students will become the backbone of China's rocket, missile and space technology teams.
1960165438+1On October 5th, China successfully launched its first domestic short-range missile. This is an important turning point in the history of our military equipment.
The road to scientific research is not smooth. 1in March, 962, a medium and short-range missile designed by our country fell 300 meters in front of the launching position shortly after taking off, and a big hole was blown out on the ground.
Qian Xuesen went deep into the control system for the first time, and worked with comrades to find the cause of the failure and improve the scheme. 1On June 29th, 964, the flight test of China's first self-designed medium and short-range missile was successful. 1October 27th, 1966, 10. Following the instructions of Premier Zhou Enlai, Qian Xuesen assisted Nie Shuai and directly led the "two-bomb combination" flight test of carrying an atomic bomb with a short-range missile. The missile flew normally, and the atomic bomb exploded at a predetermined distance and height. From the first atomic bomb explosion to the successful development of the first missile nuclear weapon, it took 13 years for the United States and more than two years for China. This success shocked the world.
196565438+1October 8, Qian Xuesen formally submitted a report to the state, suggesting that the research plan of China's artificial satellite should be made as soon as possible and included in the national task. 1On April 29th, 1965, the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense put forward the planning idea of 1970 or 197 1 launching China's first artificial earth satellite on the basis of inviting experts such as Qian Xuesen to fully study and demonstrate. The Central Special Committee approved the plan in principle. Qian Xuesen contributed wisdom to solving many key technical problems in the implementation of the satellite development plan. During the "Cultural Revolution", the trial run of "Long March 1" could not be carried out. Qian Xuesen, an assistant of Premier Zhou, played a special role in the normal development of the satellite construction plan.
"Long March 1" was successfully tested on1August 22nd, 969. From 65438 to 0970, under the direct care of Premier Zhou Enlai, Qian Xuesen and other experts launched the first artificial satellite at the satellite launch base. On April 24th, 1970, China's first artificial satellite with a weight of 173kg was successfully launched, and the music of Dongfanghong resounded all over the world.
Qian Xuesen's great contribution to science and technology is various. Up to now, 7 monographs and more than 300 papers have been published. With his rich knowledge in the fields of collectivity, power, guidance, aerodynamics, structure, computer and quality control, he has played a great role in organizing and leading the development of new China rockets, missiles and spacecraft, and made outstanding contributions to the rapid development of China's rockets, missiles and aerospace industry.
1979 Qian Xuesen's alma mater, California Institute of Technology, awarded him the title of "Outstanding Alumni". 1In June, 986, the Southern California Chinese Scientists and Engineers Association awarded him an award. 1989 international technology and technology exchange conference awarded Qian Xuesen the Willard W. F. Rockwell Youth Medal, a world-class celebrity in science and engineering, and an honorary member of the International Institute of Technology. At home, he is an outstanding scientist praised by the central authorities and respected by the people.
Known as "the father of China's atomic bomb."