The T-7 was China's first sounding rocket . A test rocket, dubbed the T-7M , was first successfully launched on 19 February 1960 in Nanhui , Shanghai , and a full-scale rocket was launched on 13 September 1960. Wang Xiji of the Shanghai Institute of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering was the chief designer. Twenty-four T-7 rockets were launched between 1960 and 1965, and it was retired after a final launch in 1969.
21-507: The T-7 was designed to carry a payload of 25 kilograms (55 lb) to an altitude of 58 kilometres (36 mi). It had a length of 8 metres (26 ft), a launch weight of 1,138 kilograms (2,509 lb) and a diameter of 45 centimetres (18 in). In 1958, China started its satellite program and tasked the Shanghai Institute of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering with the development of rockets for satellite launches. Wang Xiji ,
42-510: A launch site was built in Guangde County , Anhui for the full-scale T-7, which was successfully launched on 13 September 1960. After several further test launches, including a few failures, the rocket reached the design altitude of 58 kilometres (36 mi) on 23 November 1961. Its designed payload was 25 kilograms (55 lb). 24 T-7 rockets were launched in total from 1960 to 1965, including nine carrying meteorological payloads. The rocket
63-534: A professor of the Department of Engineering Mechanics at Shanghai Jiao Tong University , was appointed the chief engineer in charge of the rocket development, and Yang Nansheng [ zh ] was appointed deputy director of the institute in charge of the overall program including the launch site. The institute had very few experienced scientists. Other than Wang and Yang, there were only two visiting professors, Bian Yingui ( 卞荫贵 ) and Li Minhua . The rest of
84-560: Is a prominent Soviet and Russian scientist, spacecraft engineer and innovator, member of the Tsiolkovsky Space Academy. The IAA sponsors the monthly journal Acta Astronautica , published by Elsevier Press, which "covers developments in space science technology in relation to peaceful scientific exploration of space and its exploitation for human welfare and progress, the conception, design, development and operation of space-borne and Earth-based systems.” In collaboration with
105-759: Is an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the International Academy of Astronautics , and was inducted into the International Astronautical Federation Hall of Fame in 2016. Wang turned 100 in July 2021. Wang was born in July 1921 into a merchant family in Kunming , Yunnan , China. He is a member of the Bai ethnic minority from Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture . He graduated from
126-516: The Dong Fang Hong I satellite in 1970. Wang Xiji Wang Xiji ( Chinese : 王希季 ; Wade–Giles : Wang Hsi-chi ; born 26 July 1921) is a Chinese aerospace engineer. The chief designer of China's first sounding rocket ( T-7 ), first space launch vehicle ( Long March 1 ) and first recoverable satellites, he was awarded the Two Bombs, One Satellite Meritorious Medal in 1999. He
147-515: The Shuguang project for crewed spacecraft . Although initially approved by Mao Zedong , it was later cancelled in 1973 due to shortage of funds. When China restarted the Shenzhou program in 1992, Wang served as a senior supervisor of the project, which succeeded in putting the first Chinese astronaut into orbit in 2003. In 2002, Wang chaired a national policy committee that created a report outlining
168-560: The T7-M . After a failed first launch in January 1960, the second launch on 19 February 1960 was successful. Wang later developed 12 types of sounding rockets, including many recoverable and reusable designs. In the 1960s, Wang proposed the design for the Long March 1 , China's first space launch vehicle , which launched China's first satellite, the Dong Fang Hong I , in 1970. He subsequently led
189-487: The Two Bombs, One Satellite Meritorious Medal. In 2016, he became the first Chinese inductee into the International Astronautical Federation Hall of Fame. International Academy of Astronautics The International Academy of Astronautics ( IAA ) is a Paris -based non-government association for the field of astronautics . It was founded in Stockholm, Sweden ) on August 16, 1960, by Dr. Theodore von Kármán . It
210-764: The Department of Mechanical Engineering of National Southwestern Associated University in 1942, and went to the United States in 1948 to study at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute , earning his master's degree in 1949. When the People's Republic of China was founded, he abandoned his doctoral studies and returned to China in 1950. After returning to China, Wang taught at the Dalian Institute of Technology , Shanghai Jiao Tong University , and Shanghai University of Science and Technology . In 1958, when Wang
231-624: The design of China's first recoverable satellite, the Jian Bing 1 . After an initial failure in 1974, it was successfully launched in 1975, making China the third country in the world to launch a recoverable satellite. Wang's recoverable satellites achieved a higher success rate than the Corona (Discoverer) program of the United States and the Zenit series of the Soviet Union. In the late 1960s, Wang proposed
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#1732855393251252-500: The future directions for the space and missile programs of China. In 2015, Wang proposed building a space-based solar power station with at least 5–6 square kilometres (1.9–2.3 sq mi) of solar panels , 36,000 kilometres (22,000 mi) above earth. The energy would be transmitted to earth in the form of microwave or laser . The idea first appeared in Isaac Asimov 's 1941 science fiction short story " Reason ". Wang
273-473: The institute consisted of a few hundred university students with an average age of 21. Even Wang and Yang had little knowledge about rockets and had to learn on the fly. The development team worked with severe shortages of technical experience, funds, and equipment. They often worked in hunger as China was in the midst of the Great Famine . They performed calculations using hand-cranked mechanical computers as
294-461: The team did not have an electronic computer, and a single ballistics calculation could take more than forty days. The launch site, located at Laogang [ zh ] in Nanhui County outside Shanghai , consisted of a sandbag bunker and a power generator. People at the launch bunker communicated with the tracking sites by relayed shouting or hand signals , and the rocket's liquid fuel tank
315-586: Was Theodore von Kármán . Edward C. Stone held the post of President of the International Academy of Astronautics until October 2009. G. Madhavan Nair , the chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization , was president of the International Academy of Astronautics from August 2009 until 2015. He was the only Indian and the first non-American to head the IAA. Valery Geidarovich Aliev
336-581: Was elected an academician of the International Academy of Astronautics and the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1993. He was twice conferred the Special Prize of the State Science and Technology Progress Award (in 1985 and 1990), in addition to a First Class prize and a Second Class prize. He was awarded the Ho Leung Ho Lee Prize for science and technology progress. In 1999, Wang was awarded
357-461: Was pressurised using a bicycle pump . After a failed first launch in January 1960, the second launch on 19 February 1960 was successful. This small-scale test rocket, dubbed the T7-M, was China's first sounding rocket , and it reached an altitude of 8.0 kilometres (5.0 mi). This success, achieved by a group of young engineers without the help of Soviet experts, impressed Mao Zedong . In March 1960,
378-1699: Was recognised by the United Nations in 1996. The stated purpose of the IAA is: Among the activities the academy is involved, there are: According to the Academy's mission statement, the fundamental purposes of the IAA, are to: The IAA has established cooperation with: Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences (since 1985), Austrian Academy of Sciences (since 1986), French Academy of Sciences (since 1988), English Royal Society (since 1988), Academy of Finland (since 1988), Indian Academy of Sciences (since 1990), Royal Spanish Academy of Sciences (since 1989), German Academy of Sciences (since 1990), Kingdom of Netherlands (since 1990), Academies of Arts, Humanities & Sciences of Canada also known as Royal Society of Canada (since 1991), U.S. National Academy of Sciences (since 1992), U.S. National Academy of Engineering (since 1992), Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities (since 1994), Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters (since 1995), Chinese Academy of Sciences (since 1996), Royal Academy of Sciences of Turin (since 1997), Australian Academy of Science (since 1998), Australian Academy of Technological Science and Engineering (since 1998), Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (since 1999), Brazilian Academy of Sciences (since 2000), U.S. Institute of Medicine (since 2002), Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (since 2010), Academy of Sciences of South Africa (since 2011), Royal Society of South Africa (since 2011) and Pontifical Academy of Sciences (since 2012). The Academy's first president
399-529: Was retired after a final launch in 1969. The experience gained from developing the T-7 contributed greatly to the development of the Long March 1 , the rocket that launched China's first satellite. After their success with T-7, Wang Xiji and his team were transferred to Beijing and Wang was appointed the chief designer of the Long March 1. He again collaborated with Yang Nansheng, and the Long March 1 successfully launched
420-550: Was serving as professor and vice chair of the Department of Engineering Mechanics at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, he was abruptly appointed chief engineer of the Shanghai Institute of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering . Only after he arrived at his new workplace did he learn that China had started its satellite program and the institute was responsible for developing rockets for satellite launches. The institute had very few experienced scientists. Other than Wang Xiji and his former classmate Yang Nansheng [ zh ] , who
441-447: Was the deputy director of the institute, there were only two visiting professors, Bian Yingui (卞荫贵) and Li Minhua . The rest of the institute consisted of a few hundred university students with an average age of 21. Even Wang and Yang had little knowledge about rockets and had to learn on the fly. Working with severe shortages of technical experience, fund, and equipment, Wang's team managed to develop China's first sounding rocket ,
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