Bittersweet of moon rover Yutu's designer(3)

CHALLENGING CAUSE

Anxiety over the success of China's moon rover was ever present.

"When we were drawing up the blueprints, we were very confident. But during the development process, all sorts of problems, which we'd never thought of, popped up. Our confidence was battered," Jia says.

"After the problems were solved with efforts, we regained the confidence," he adds.

He discovered an oversight in the design late in the development, when computer analysis revealed that the rover could lose contact with the earth if its antenna was shaded by the lander.

"We were tortured for a whole month before the problems were solved," says Jia.

"It showed a lack of experience. If we had a lot of experience for reference, it would have been gross negligence if we hadn't considered such problems. But for the moon rover, there were too many new problems and these problems were overlooked at first."

Before the lunar probe left factory, Jia's superiors asked if he was confident.

"Yes, I am confident because I've done all I want to do, all I must do and all I am required to do," Jia replied.

On behalf of his team, Jia signed a responsibility certificate, committing to the mission's success, which he framed and put on his desk.

"But even though we spare no effort to achieve success, we cannot be 100 percent sure of success," he admits.

Jia has worked to popularize space science among children and stimulate their interest in the universe.

Once in a high school competition, a student's self-made "moon rover" failed to pick up a cigarette case with its robotic arm. Jia encouraged him: "It's important to find the problems. As long as you find the problems, you have the basis to solve them."

Jia's next goal is Mars: "I hope before my retirement, the Chinese people can begin exploring Mars. I hope we can send a rover, better than Yutu, to Mars."