BRAINSTORMS
Although a latecomer, China's satellite was to be more advanced than those of other countries, the scientists assumed.
He Zhenghua, leader of general technology team, suggested installing a music device to play the song "Dongfanghong", or "The East is Red". Adapted from a folk song, the lyrics sing the praises of Chairman Mao.
The government approved the idea. The scientists' enthusiasm was mixed with stress, as the task was as important as the satellite itself. What if the music was out of tune or failed to work in space? It could be a huge political error.
After many experiments, they came up with suitable electronic music.
Then, how to make the satellite visible from the ground?
The limited carrying capacity confined the satellite's diameter to one meter, too small to see with the naked eye from Earth.
Inspired by a folding umbrella, scientists installed a device painted with reflective materials on the final-stage rocket. When the rocket reached space, the "observation skirt" would unfold like umbrella and be seen from Earth.
However, it failed to unfold in a vacuum environment. With the launch nearing, scientists sought desperately for a solution.
Eventually, they designed a spherical air jacket. When the rocket reached space, the jacket would inflate to a balloon with a diameter of 3 meters, which could be spotted easily.
In September 1969, the Dongfanghong-1 prototype passed the laboratory tests. But one problem still nagged chief designer Sun Jiadong.
Embedded on all the equipment, Chairman Mao badges overloaded the satellite and posed a fault risk. But opposing the badges at that time could incur political risks.
Sun Jiadong reported his dilemma to Premier Zhou Enlai, who dispelled his concerns. "Scientists should keep a scientific attitude and follow objective rules," said Zhou. The badges were removed, except one that was embedded on the music device.
NO PROBLEM UNSOLVABLE
China joined the "space club" on April 24, 1970, when it successfully sent its first satellite, Dongfanghong-1, into orbit with its Long March rocket. It became the fifth nation after the Soviet Union, the U.S., France and Japan to achieve independent launch capability.
Streets around the country filled with cheering crowds when Xinhua News Agency reported the news. People looked up at the night sky to see the satellite.
After the launch, the devices on Dongfanghong-1 operated for 28 days, exceeding the originally estimated 20 days. It acquired a great deal of data for later satellite research and development.
A year later, China joined the United Nations and became one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council. The achievement of space exploration had been regarded as an important consideration.
Forty-five years later, Dongfanghong-1 is still circling the Earth, and it is believed it will continue its voyage for centuries to come - long after the passing of the scientists who gave it life.
"The first satellites launched by many other countries have already fallen," says Yu Jun, who works at Guokr.com, a website dedicated to popularizing science.
"Though launched later, China's first satellite had a very good starting point. I hope China will develop heavy-lift rocket in the future."
The year Dongfanghong-1 was launched, Zhou Zhicheng was 7 years old: "I heard the 'The East is Red' played on the radio. When the satellite passed over China, the adults were excited." He little realized that one day he would continue China's space development.
Now the director of the communications satellite department of the China Academy of Space Technology, Zhou has helped develop a range of communication satellites in the "Dongfanghong" series. He was central to the Dongfanghong-3 research program and chief designer of Dongfanghong-4 in 2000.
"Satellites in the Dongfanghong series have provided services to people at home and abroad. Based on the platform of Dongfanghong-4, nine satellites have been launched and 20 more will be launched in the next five years," says Zhou.
"China has won high recognition in the global market," Zhou adds. China has helped Nigeria, Pakistan and Bolivia with their satellite research and signed 12 international satellite contracts.
China is now developing Dongfanghong-5 with cutting edge technologies, which will be applied to the "Internet Plus" strategy, which was launched by Premier Li Keqiang during the government work report in March.
Li said the "Internet Plus" action plan would help to integrate mobile Internet, cloud computing, big data and the Internet of Things with modern manufacturing.
According to Zhou, the new satellite, scheduled for launch around 2018, will double China's network speed.
Many difficulties lie ahead, but the research environment has changed markedly from that of the first satellite, he says, but "the spirit of hard work, persistence and commitment continues, making us believe that no problem is unsolvable."
"The 'advanced' technology we used at that time is low-end today," says Wang Xiji, who is now 93 years old. He still marvels at how a group of young people with bold minds launched an entire satellite industry.
"China's carrier rocket technology is the world's best," Wang says. "China's independent innovation should never be underestimated."
Zhang Jianqi, director-general of the China Space Foundation, echoes Wang: "Innovation needs talent and the environment for the talent to play their roles."
"The country's first atomic bomb, hydrogen bomb, and artificial satellite had promoted the development of China's industrial system," Zhang adds. "Space technology plays a critical role in making China a strong country."
