1at 2 1 35 on April 24, 970, the Long March 1 carrier rocket carrying Dongfanghong-1 satellite was ignited and lifted off. With the majestic music of "Dongfanghong" resounding through the land of China through radio waves, China's first self-developed satellite "Dongfanghong-1" successfully entered orbit and roamed the sky, marking the beginning of China's space age.
Tomorrow, China will usher in the third "China Aerospace Day". While marching towards a new era of space, we should also remember the outstanding contributions made by the older generation of scientists to the development of China's space industry. Today, please follow the reminiscence article written by Zhang Jinfu, former party secretary and vice president of China Academy of Sciences, and review this exciting history together to explore the deep roots of "Dongfanghong No.1" and China Academy of Sciences!
China's first satellite model was born in Chinese Academy of Sciences.
1957, 10 year10.4, the Soviet union sent the first artificial earth satellite into the sky, and our party central Committee attached great importance to it. Vice Premier Nie, who is in charge of science and technology, told me that the Academy of Sciences should pay close attention. Zhu Kezhen, vice president of China Academy of Sciences, Qian Xuesen, director of Institute of Mechanics, Zhao Jiuzhang, director of Institute of Geophysics, etc. It is suggested that satellite research should be carried out in China. According to the research of the party group of the institute, this is a top priority related to national defense and people's peace and tranquility. To this end, two tasks have been completed.
First, China's first satellite program came into being. At the request of the former Soviet Academy of Sciences, 1957- 10, the National Geophysical Committee of the Institute of Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences organized nationwide observation of Soviet satellites, and established satellite optical observation groups and radio observation groups. Observatories have been set up in Beijing, Nanjing, Shanghai and Kunming, and the number has increased from 1958 to 12. According to the request of Vice President Wu, several scientific and technical personnel who are planning to build the Institute of Electronics have chosen their own topics and made a radio signal receiving device, which can not only receive the radio signals and frequency changes emitted by satellites to the ground, but also calculate its orbit, thus inferring what may be inside. I have called relevant scientists to discuss many times. Scientists believe that building satellites is a highly comprehensive task, which can promote the development of many emerging technologies from the perspective of "disciplined mission". Satellites can be used for civilian and military purposes. Using the existing foundation of the Academy of Sciences to speed up research, coupled with the strength of the Fifth Academy of National Defense and other brother departments, in a few years, China will also be able to satellite into the sky. They also suggested that the Academy of Sciences take satellites as its key task. Therefore, in 1958, the party group of the Chinese Academy of Sciences listed satellite development as the first task of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and for the sake of confidentiality, it was code-named 58 1 task.
1May 1958 17, President Mao Zedong proposed at the second meeting of the Eighth National Congress: "We also want to build satellites." General Nie instructed me and Wang Chen, the Fifth Institute of National Defense (hereinafter referred to as the Fifth Institute) and other relevant experts to draw up a satellite plan. In June, the Academy of Sciences held a mobilization meeting for the Great Leap Forward, and scientists actively advocated the development of artificial satellites. In July, the Chinese Academy of Sciences reported to President Nie that China's satellite planning is divided into three steps: the first step is to launch sounding rockets, the second step is to launch small satellites, and the third step is to launch large satellites. The division of tasks is as follows: rockets mainly come from the Fifth Academy, and short-term sounding, satellite and observation work mainly come from the Academy of Sciences, which cooperate with each other. It requires three years of hard work to realize China's first satellite.
The second is to make the first satellite model of China. In order to realize the planning task, the Chinese Academy of Sciences set up the 58 1 group to study the satellite problem. 58 1 The team leader is Qian Xuesen, the deputy team leader is Zhao Jiuzhang and Wei Yiqing, and the members are Yang Gangyi, Wu Ruyang, Gu Dehuan and Hua Shoujun. Another technical group was set up, chaired by Qian Xuesen and Zhao Jiuzhang. People who often attend the 58 1 group meeting are Lu Yuanjiu, Lu, Ma, Sun Xiang, Sun Jian politician, Wu, etc. I was very nervous at work. In July, August and September, the 58 1 group meets two or three times a week. Pei, Du Runsheng, Wang Chen, Luo, Ji and Cai Qiao and I participated many times.
At the same time, the Chinese Academy of Sciences has established three design institutes: the first design institute is responsible for the overall design of satellite and rocket development. In order to facilitate cooperation with Shanghai, 1 1 moved to Shanghai and changed its name to Shanghai Electromechanical Design Institute; The second design institute is responsible for developing the control system, which is divided into three research rooms, and its business direction is attitude control system simulation, remote control and telemetry and moving object control. The Third Design Institute is responsible for the development of radiosondes and the study of space environment, with Zhao Jiuzhang and Qian Ji as scientific and technological leaders.
58 1 The team worked hard day and night for more than two months. Through cooperation with 3 1 unit inside and outside the hospital, the preliminary design of the launch vehicle structure was completed, and two sounding rocket head models with various high-altitude environmental detection instruments and animal cabins were developed, which took a gratifying first step for the development of China's space industry. In June, 5438+0958+00, the design drawings and models of satellites and rockets, including two models of sounding rocket heads with scientific detection instruments and dogs, were exhibited at the Leap Forward Achievement Exhibition of the Safety Museum of China Academy of Sciences. President Mao Zedong's visit has had a great influence on the Party and the country.
Satellite technology is one of the cutting-edge technologies. If we master it, we can achieve a new leap in China's science and technology. However, making satellites is not easy. I think the leading group of the hospital should do the following: first, gather and train talents vigorously; Second, actively strive for foreign aid. The party group agreed with this opinion and reached a consensus.
The problem of talents, on the one hand, is to increase scientific and technological personnel, on the other hand, to equip laboratories and factories with skilled workers. As for the source of skilled workers, we asked the General Political Department of the People's Liberation Army to help the Academy of Sciences deploy 8,000 young demobilized skilled soldiers. Please ask Minister Lv Zhengcao of the Ministry of Railways to support a group of our old workers and assign them to relevant research institutes and factories in 1959. Later, during the economic difficulties, according to the central policy, most of the demobilized soldiers were streamlined and returned to their hometown. Because of undertaking the task of national defense production, a group of demobilized technical soldiers who have been trained and mastered the trial production technology have been reserved by special approval. The instruments and equipment designed by scientific and technical personnel need to be done by the master. They work day and night, regardless of pay, overcome difficulties and finish the task on time. I praised their gold craftsmanship and they were very happy.
At that time, it was not enough for scientific and technological personnel to rely solely on the state to allocate college students. At the beginning of 1958, the party group of the First Hospital adopted the policy of "running the whole hospital and combining departments", with a new discipline as the main body-China University of Science and Technology. May newspaper, June batch, August admission. The school building has not yet landed, and the fire is on the verge. I asked Comrade Grain Rain to ask Yang, then director of the General Office of the Central Committee, for help. Comrade Yang gave a military property in Yuquan Road, Beijing, which is under the jurisdiction of the central government, to the University of Science and Technology as the campus. Dean Guo Moruo and I went to see the place, and a major general was already waiting at the gate. Before we could speak, he said, "I understand the purpose of my coming. We will act immediately and fly quickly. " There are not enough student dormitories. Vice Premier Li Fuchun donated tens of thousands of square meters of teaching buildings and dormitories, which enabled the Chinese University of Science and Technology to start school on time. I am very happy to see young faces, carrying bedding or carrying burdens, walking from Beijing Railway Station to Yuquan Road to report for duty. The University of Science and Technology of China Academy of Sciences offers a series of space technology courses, including Introduction to Interstellar Navigation by Qian Xuesen, Upper Atmosphere Physics by Zhao Jiuzhang and Gyroscope and Inertial Navigation Principles by Lu Yuanjiu. Later, these students became the backbone of China's space science and technology.
Actively strive for foreign aid, mainly from the former Soviet Union. 1958 10 10 In mid-October, China Academy of Sciences organized an atmospheric physics delegation to visit the Soviet Union, headed by Zhao Jiuzhang, with Wei Yiqing, Qian Ji and Pan Houren as members. I remember I went to the Institute of Geophysics on a Sunday. In order to seize the time, I said to Director Zhao, "Let's go. Today is Sunday, and so is the day after tomorrow. " During their stay in the Soviet Union, they visited some scientific research units, saw some high-altitude sounding instruments and satellite models exhibited in the Science and Technology Exhibition Hall, and inspected some astronomical, ionospheric and ground observation stations. At the beginning of 1959, the delegation returned to China. To sum up, it was thought that China did not have the conditions to launch artificial earth satellites, and should start with rocket sounding according to its own actual situation. Their suggestions were in line with the instructions of the Central Committee on satellite work at that time.
The Political Bureau of the Central Committee allocated huge sums of money to support the Academy of Sciences in developing satellites.
1958, after the former Soviet Union and the United States successively launched artificial earth satellites, scientists in our institute solemnly suggested that China develop artificial earth satellites. In July and September of 1958, I reported the scientists' suggestions to General Manager Nie and the Central Committee twice, and put forward the report on the cutting-edge research cooperation between the Academy of Sciences and national defense and the development of artificial earth satellites.
Especially in June 1958 1 1, during the Sixth Plenary Session of the Eighth Central Committee of Wuchang, I reported to the Secretariat of the Central Committee the opinions and plans of scientists on developing artificial satellites, which were passed at the meeting. The Political Bureau of the Central Committee Research decided to allocate 200 million yuan to support the Academy of Sciences in developing satellites. Shortly after the founding of New China, the country spent a lot of money in all aspects. Anyone can weigh the weight of such a huge sum.
How to use the money and spend it on ideas? After earnestly soliciting the opinions of scientists, the party group of the Academy of Sciences, after careful study, determined that the special funds will be mainly used to build two research, design and test bases of high-energy fuel, rocket engine and launch vehicle of Shanghai Electromechanical Design Institute, as well as underwater acoustic workstation, wind tunnel, 58 1 laboratory, 109 factory, Shanghai, Dalian and Changchun high-energy fuel research laboratories and electronics, automation, high-temperature metals and optics. I specially invited Grain Rain, director of the Institute's New Technology Office (later changed to the New Technology Bureau) to coordinate with the Culture and Education Department of the Ministry of Finance. With the instructions of Vice Premier Li Xiannian, the central special funds were put in place at the end of that year.
Considering the restriction of rocket thrust on satellite development, Qian Xuesen advocated that the Academy of Sciences should take the lead in researching high-energy fuels. 1958, the academy of sciences held a conference on high-energy fuels, organized four chemical institutes in Beijing, Shanghai, Dalian and Changchun, and called them "elite soldiers of four families" to develop liquid and solid high-energy fuels and explore solid-liquid fuels, free radicals and heavy hydrogen fuels. With special funds, starting from 1959, Beijing Rocket Engine Test Base, Wind Tunnel of Institute of Mechanics, Rocket of Shanghai Electromechanical Design Institute, Remote Control Instrument of Beijing 58 1 Factory, and semiconductor component research facilities of 109 Factory have been established successively.
At this time, I suggested to Mr. Nie to take a two-legged approach, that is, while the Fifth Academy of Sciences used the information of the former Soviet Union and general fuel to study rockets, the Academy of Sciences gave full play to its comprehensive research advantages and independently explored and innovated, and developed rockets with high-energy fuel as a supplement to the Fifth Academy of Sciences, and Mr. Nie agreed.
The second part of the Institute of Mechanics, presided over by Lin Hongxun, carried out bench tests on several liquid and solid fuels successfully developed by various chemical institutes on two test stands of liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen rocket engines (interstellar navigation power) built in the mountainous area of Beijing. According to the records, more than 65,438+000 engine bench tests were carried out and achieved success. The scientific data recorded in the instrument test are provided to the design unit. According to the requirements of the National Defense Science and Technology Commission, all the test data and materials were transferred to the No.7 Machinery Department, and the high-energy fuel was put into production and supplied by the industrial department.
The national three-year economic difficulties satellite launch plan was postponed.
There is a lot of work to be done on the satellite. One of the most difficult things is to develop all the instruments installed on the satellite. It is necessary to build a platform on the ground to simulate the vacuum environment at high altitude, and test the instruments at this place first. To send creatures to the sky, it is necessary to set up high-altitude simulation experimental equipment in Beijing, that is, how the instrument works after the satellite is launched. Under the condition of vacuum on the ground, all instruments and creatures must be tested first. Plus the satellite itself, what instruments are there? For example, thermal control: when the satellite is running in the air, the temperature on the sunny side is as high as 100 degrees Celsius, and the temperature on the shady side is as low as-100 degrees Celsius, so the instruments and equipment must be kept within the range of -5 degrees Celsius to -40 degrees Celsius to work normally. Min, a rising star of the Institute of Mechanics and later president of China Academy of Space Technology, adopted two kinds of temperature control coatings through a lot of measurements, experiments, calculations and theoretical analysis, which made the temperature in the instrument cabin meet the overall design requirements.
The Central Special Committee decided that the satellite mission should be undertaken by the Academy of Sciences, and the satellite itself should be mainly developed by the Academy of Sciences. The Academy of Sciences also organizes relevant departments to cooperate. A large number of non-standard equipment are needed in research work. For example, the ground simulated vacuum experimental equipment needs the help of relevant departments, and we can only test it on the ground, and it must be tested under vacuum conditions. Our Academy of Sciences has also established a scientific instrument factory in Beijing as an assembly plant for artificial satellites. At that time, the foreign exchange of the Academy of Sciences was limited, and all the good equipment we bought with foreign exchange was put in the scientific instrument factory, which could make many good things.
Due to three years of economic difficulties, Chen Yun and Deng Xiaoping, two members of the Standing Committee of the Central Committee and vice premier, said to me respectively: "The satellite still needs to be built, but due to the national economic difficulties, it will be delayed a little." 1959 65438+1October 2 1 I conveyed the instructions of Deng Xiaoping, general secretary of the Central Secretariat, at the party group meeting of the Academy: "No satellites will be launched next year, which is not commensurate with national strength."
Subsequently, the party group of the institute held a meeting to adjust the space technology scheme, put forward the working principle of "thighs become calves, satellites become sounding", decided to adjust the mechanism, stopped developing large-scale launch vehicles and artificial satellites, and shifted the focus of work to the development of sounding rockets. This adjustment is not a task of dismounting, but laying the foundation, starting with the development of sounding rockets and carrying out high-altitude exploration activities; At the same time, the research on individual technologies related to artificial satellites and the development of measurement and test equipment are carried out to prepare for the development of spacecraft technology and ground measurement and control technology in China.
The specific policy put forward by the party group of the institute is: "train with sounding rockets, lay the foundation for high-altitude physical exploration, constantly explore the development direction of satellites, and build a space environment simulation laboratory." In practical work, we first concentrated on developing T-7 meteorological rocket, and cooperated with the Fifth Academy to develop Heping 1 sounding rocket. 1 On May 4th, 959, Qian Xuesen presided over a meeting on the cooperation and division of labor of Heping1rocket, and made specific arrangements for telemetry system, onboard instruments, structural design, ballistic measurement and connection with the shooting range. Liu and Liang Shouyun from the Fifth Academy of Sciences and Grain Rain and Zhao Jiuzhang from the Academy of Sciences attended the meeting.
Concentrate on the development of sounding rockets to open the way for satellites.
196 1 In April, the manned spacecraft of the former Soviet Union went into space, which attracted great attention from China's scientific and technological circles and national defense departments. China Academy of Sciences organized a seminar on interstellar travel, which was presided over by Vice President Pei. Every time, experts gave a report on a special topic. At the first symposium on June 3, Qian Xuesen made a central speech entitled "Rocket Power and Its Prospect in the Soviet-American Interstellar Navigation"; The second lecture, scientific satellite detection and meteorological rocket measurement, was given by Zhao Jiuzhang. After each speech, they invited scientists to express their opinions and speak freely. People have reached a consensus that satellites and missiles actually interact, and the rocket acceleration required for launching satellites and missiles is the same thing. Everyone also had a heated discussion on whether to launch satellites with two-stage or three-stage rockets. Later, satellite communication and measurement and control, satellite temperature control and other scientific and technological issues have been reported and discussed one after another. The symposium lasted for 3 years and was held 12 times. Many useful ideas and suggestions were put forward, which not only enlivened academic thoughts, but also provided knowledge reserves for later satellite launches.
T-7 meteorological rocket is a space detection system for detecting atmospheric temperature, pressure, wind direction and wind speed below 60~80 km. Although the sparrow is small, it has all aspects. Including launch vehicle, aircraft, energy source, antenna, detection instrument, environmental simulation test, ground launch, telemetry, tracking and orbit measurement, time unification and data recording and processing.
The launch vehicle was completed under the auspices of Yang Nansheng and Wang Xiji of Shanghai Electromechanical Design Institute. The test flight altitude is 9.8 kilometers. On May 28th, 1960, Chairman Mao and Yang visited the T-7M rocket in the cutting-edge technology exhibition hall of Shanghai New Technology Exhibition. When it was reported that it was designed and developed by our own experts without Soviet experts and information, Chairman Mao even claimed that it was very good and asked how high the rocket could fly. The answer is that it can fly 8 kilometers. Chairman Mao said: "8 kilometers is amazing!" "It should be 8 kilometers, 20 kilometers, 200 kilometers!"
1960 In March, in order to develop rockets, the Academy of Sciences established a rocket launch test base code-named 603. There, the uncontrolled rocket test of sounding rocket and solid booster in series was successfully carried out. The first rocket has a total length of 10 m, a diameter of 0.45 m, a take-off weight of 1 138 kg, a detector of 25 kg, and a designed maximum flying height of 60 km. The first launch of 438+0960 was successful on September 65. Later, it was improved on this basis, and the maximum flying altitude was 1 15 km. After the arrows are separated, they are recovered by parachutes, which not only meets the needs of meteorological exploration, but also creates conditions for high-altitude biological and geophysical exploration.
From 1960 to 1965, at the 603 base, only T-7 rockets carried out 9 batches of 24 high-altitude scientific exploration tests. Among them, there are successes and failures. Once Qian Xuesen and I were at the scene, and we saw the scene of failure with our own eyes. At that time, our hearts were very heavy. However, after the experiment, we not only obtained the data of wind direction and wind speed in the upper atmosphere, but also carried out research on high-altitude biology and high-altitude medicine. The remote control and photography system on the arrow are normal, and the biological cabin is safely recovered, which has created a precedent for the research of cosmic biology and the design of biological support engineering in China. The Fifth Hospital of the Ministry of National Defense sent a letter to the Chinese Academy of Sciences congratulating the success of the biological rocket test!
Long March 1 launch vehicle for launching Dongfanghong-1 (picture from the network) Long March 1 launch vehicle for launching Dongfanghong-1 (picture from the network)
China Academy of Sciences has organized cooperation in mathematics, physics, chemistry, astronomy, geology, biology, technology and other disciplines to carry out joint operations in scientific research, design, technology, manufacturing and experiment, which is unprecedented in the history of science and technology in China. Under the unified leadership of the party group of the Academy, after seven years of unremitting efforts, especially under three years of extremely difficult economic conditions, many scientific and technological personnel and workers were hungry and malnourished, but they still forgot their work and successfully concentrated on developing sounding rockets, making full preparations for satellite launch. At the same time, it has trained and exercised a backbone of China's own space science and technology, and accumulated valuable experience in satellite science and technology engineering from the aspects of overall design, organizational planning, experimental condition construction, subsystem coordination, quality analysis, dispatching and command. At the same time, the Bureau of New Technology of Chinese Academy of Sciences organized relevant research institutes to carry out a series of satellite preparation and pre-research according to the requirements of the party group of Chinese Academy of Sciences. Practice has proved that this adjustment is absolutely necessary.
China's artificial earth satellite was officially included in the national task.
1962, the central Committee set up a special Committee, which was originally in charge of the "two bombs." Premier Zhou is the director and Luo Ruiqing is the secretary-general. Later, I was asked to participate in the work of the Central Special Committee, responsible for the development of satellites and making artificial satellites. The first artificial satellite scheme was put forward by the Academy of Sciences. After I reported it, the special committee passed it. The first satellite is a scientific experimental satellite, which can play the music of Dongfanghong in the sky. Later, a new satellite plan was made to engage in communication satellites and meteorological satellites. Later, China's first artificial satellite was postponed to 1970.
1964, China's economic situation improved and short-range missiles were successfully launched. During the Third National People's Congress in February, 65438, Zhao Jiuzhang wrote to Premier Zhou, stating his reasons: It's time to grasp the satellite work. 1965 1 Premier Zhou instructed the Academy of Sciences to put forward specific plans. Therefore, on the basis of 58 1, 65 1 was designated as the code name of the satellite mission.
Immediately, Pei and Zhu Kezhen and I quickly organized relevant personnel to discuss, and on the basis of years of basic satellite research and rocket sounding practice, formed a party group proposal to report. At the same time, Qian Xuesen sent a letter to Vice Premier Nie, suggesting that the satellite plan should be made as soon as possible and included in the national task.
Nie Rongzhen asked Zhang Aiping, deputy chief of staff, to invite me and Qian Xuesen, heads of relevant departments, to discuss the issue of launching satellites. According to the discussion, on April 29th, the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense submitted a report on 1970 ~ 1 launching China's first man-made satellite, suggesting that the Chinese Academy of Sciences should be responsible for the overall satellite project and satellite body, the seventh engine department should be responsible for the launch vehicle, and the fourth engine should be the main ground observation, tracking and remote control system, with the cooperation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. On May 6th, the report was approved by the Central Special Committee at its12nd meeting, and instructed the China Academy of Sciences as the main body to be responsible for the overall design and technology of launching satellites, with the cooperation of the Fourth Machinery Department, the Seventh Machinery Department and the Military Medical College of the General Logistics Department. Since then, the development of China's first artificial satellite has been officially launched.
1965 can be said to be the satellite year of China. In order to carry out the mission of China's first artificial satellite, China Academy of Sciences set up four working groups on satellite general, ground equipment, biology and orbit on May 3 1 to organize relevant personnel to discuss and draft a preliminary plan. First of all, I took out the preliminary plan of the first satellite and summarized it into a chart. Qian Ji and others made detailed reports to the leaders of the Academy of Sciences and the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense respectively, and then directly reported to Premier Zhou. When Premier Zhou learned that he was reporting to him, he jokingly said that our chief satellite designer was also surnamed Qian. We can't make sophisticated atomic bombs, missiles and satellites without money. Later, Qian Ji said that Premier Zhou's approachability relieved his nervousness, and the meeting immediately became active.
Unprecedented scientific demonstration of the first artificial satellite plan
In July 1965 and 1, the proposal of China Academy of Sciences on developing China's satellite work plan was submitted to the Central Special Committee. This proposal discusses the main purpose of launching artificial satellite, the struggle and development steps in 10, the three schemes of China's first artificial satellite, the selection of satellite orbit and the establishment of ground observation network, as well as important suggestions and measures. There are also three annexes: general situation of foreign space activities and satellite development; Ontology design scheme of six main satellites: orbit design scheme of satellites. 10 On August 9, the Central Special Committee discussed and approved in principle this planning scheme at the 13 meeting, and decided that the commission of science, technology and industry for national defense should be responsible for organization and coordination. The Academy of Sciences can start its work according to this plan. As a member of the Central Special Committee, I attended the meeting.
In mid-August, the Academy of Sciences met, and I conveyed the decision of the Central Special Committee to discuss the task implementation and organization of satellite work. Decided to set up three institutions: the satellite mission leading group, with Grain Rain as the leader and Yang Gangyi and Zhao Jiuzhang as the deputy heads; Satellite overall design team, team leader Zhao Jiuzhang, deputy team leaders Guo Yonghuai and Wang Daheng; Director Lu Maoguan of Satellite Mission Office. 1In June, 1966, the Institute of Satellite Design of China Academy of Sciences was established with the code of 65 1 Design Institute. The public name was Scientific Instrument Design Institute, with Zhao Jiuzhang as the president, Yang Gangyi as the party secretary and Qian Ji as the vice president.
Some experts involved in the development of Dongfanghong-1 satellite (picture from/) Some experts involved in the development of Dongfanghong-1 satellite (picture from/)
654381October 20th to1October 30th, 165438+ Entrusted by the National Defense Science and Technology Commission, China Academy of Sciences held a demonstration meeting on the overall scheme of China's first Earth satellite. Attending the meeting were the Science and Technology Commission for National Defense, Office of National Defense Industry, State Science and Technology Commission, General Staff Department, Navy, Artillery, No.1 Machinery Department, No.4 Machinery Department, No.7 Machinery Department, Ministry of Communications, Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, Launch Base, Military Medical College and relevant research institutes of Chinese Academy of Sciences, representing 120 people.
I entrust the vice president to preside over the meeting. His characteristic is that he works very hard, hands-on, is responsible for cutting-edge scientific and technological projects, and can ask anything. The duration is 42 days. After careful and repeated discussions on major issues, it is determined that China's first satellite is a scientific experimental satellite, which is mainly used to develop China's Earth observation, communication, broadcasting, meteorology, early warning and other application satellites to obtain basic experience and design data. The specific tasks are: (1) measuring the engineering parameters of the satellite body; (2) detecting space environment parameters; (3) Lay a material and technical foundation for satellite orbit parameters and telemetry and telecontrol. Everyone agrees that China's first satellite is more advanced than that of the Soviet Union and the United States in terms of weight, life span and technology, and it should be "visible, tangible, accurate in measurement, timely in reporting, audible and visible". And be cautious in the first battle, and strive for the success of World War I. The overall team suggested that the first satellite should be designated as "Dongfanghong 1" and the music of "Dongfanghong" should be played on the satellite, so that people all over the world can hear it and get the recognition of the participating experts. This is a very successful meeting. During the meeting, Premier Zhou specially invited delegates to watch cultural programs in the auditorium of the Great Hall of the People.
Development of Dongfanghong 1 Satellite and Establishment of Ground Tracking Observation System
65 1 Design Institute Dongfanghong 1 The overall satellite team is led by Qian Ji, vice president, and the whole team is composed of 1 1 person: the team leader is responsible for the overall situation, focusing on the coordination of structure, environmental conditions and vehicles; The deputy team leader is responsible for the electrical part, including the entire satellite circuit, cable layout, connection and installation. Members are responsible for satellite tracking and orbit measurement system, orbit design, telemetry system, power supply system, attitude control, structural system, etc. The overall group determines that the Dongfanghong 1 subsystem consists of Dongfanghong Musical Instrument, short-wave telemetry, tracking, antenna, structure, thermal control, energy and attitude measurement. The overall team worked closely with the Satellite Office to break down the complex development tasks into specific topics, made hundreds of task cards and distributed them to various research institutes.
Send our satellite into the sky by hand. This is the ardent expectation of the majority of scientific and technological personnel for many years. Everyone is excited, and the vast number of scientific and technological personnel who have received the task are even more excited. In Zhongguancun Science City, you can see people's selfless work during the day, and at night, the scientific research and dormitory buildings are brightly lit, full of vitality and prosperity. With the close cooperation of each subsystem, the development of Dongfanghong 1 satellite has made great progress. In order to ensure the quality of the satellite, the general team proposed in June 1967 1 that the development of Dongfanghong 1 can be divided into four stages: finalization, initial sample, sample and normal sample. Firstly, the experimental circuits are made and the performance prototype is installed in each subsystem, which proves that it is feasible in technology and production. The general team assigned the acceptance team to make sample stars after passing the acceptance. By solving the contradiction in the final assembly test of prototype satellite, the coordination parameters are determined, and on this basis, the preliminary prototype development task book of each subsystem is drawn up. Check the structural star and temperature control star of satellite structural design and thermal control design with the initial product combination. Pass the test, improve, try again and improve again until the design requirements are met. Then coordinate and determine the technical specifications for developing sample stars and positive sample stars.
Scientific research activities are very hard, not only researchers are doing it, but also scientific research managers are trying their best to serve the front line and are actively trying to find ways. Comrade Lv Qiang, secretary of the Party Committee of the Institute of Automation, told a story: once they were doing a component test outdoors, it was in the middle of winter when the cold wind was blowing hard, and the comrades operated it, 1 time, twice, three times ... 1 hour passed, two hours passed, three hours passed ... and there was no sign of success. He suggested: "Comrades should wait until after dinner." But nobody moved. He was in such a hurry that he ignored everything. He boldly came up with an idea for the experiment and said, "Try that little hat upside down." In fact, the experiment was successful. The comrades present applauded and jumped for joy. What a grand scene! Of course, he doesn't understand the truth of success, but this is a microcosm of Qi Xin's joint efforts in tackling key problems.
The most important problems in launching satellites are ground tracking and orbit determination. Director Zhao Jiuzhang once said, Imagine that a satellite with a scale of several meters is put into orbit, just like a fly a few kilometers away. If you can't catch it, how can you find it? Therefore, to launch a satellite, we must first understand the operation law, orbit calculation, measurement, prediction and layout of tracking stations. The Academy of Sciences should take up this task and go first. He asked Guan, director of the Institute of Mathematics, to immediately organize personnel to implement this matter. 10 to March, 1966, 1 Design Institute organized experts to do a lot of simulation calculation and analysis research on short-arc tracking and orbit determination, and affirmed the multi-station Doppler independent orbit determination scheme, which made the tracking and orbit determination system of medium and low orbit satellites in China form its own characteristics. From March 22nd to 30th, the demonstration meeting of the ground observation system scheme was held in Wei Bei Hotel, and each subsystem scheme was approved. Soon, at the two orbit selection meetings held in April, according to the actual needs and possibilities, the participants unanimously concluded that the orbit inclination should be increased from about 40 degrees to about 70 degrees, which not only fundamentally improved the overall performance of satellite orbit, but also saved a lot of investment in ground station construction.
Just as the China Academy of Sciences cooperated closely with the Fifth Academy of National Defense, the Fourth Academy of Machinery and many departments and units in China, the development of satellites made continuous progress, and ground facilities were established one by one. Especially after three years of difficulties, automation institutes and electronic institutes were able to communicate with each other continuously. When the satellite development of the Academy of Sciences was basically completed, the "Cultural Revolution" took place, from 65,438 to 65,438+10. 1968 China academy of space technology was established, and the development of Dongfanghong-1 satellite continued.
1970 On April 24th, China's first artificial earth satellite flew into the sky. Many comrades who participated in the satellite development mission were so excited that tears filled their eyes and the whole country rejoiced. Like the people of the whole country, I feel extremely excited, gratified and happy from the heart.