AWARDEE OF TECHNOLOGICAL SCIENCES PRIZE

QI FAREN

Professor Qi Faren, an expert in space technology and the chief designer of “Shenzhou” manned spacecraft, was born in Liaoning Province, China. He studied for BS Degree in aircraft research at Beijing University of Astronautics and Aeronautics. After graduation in 1957, he was assigned to work in China Academy of Launch Vehicle of Technology. In 1967, he went to the China Academy of Space Technology(CAST), dedicating to the design of satellite and spacecraft. From that time to 1996, he was appointed as the director of General System Department of CAST, the vice president and the president of CAST. At the same time, he was the chief designer of many kinds of satellites.
When he was in charge of the design of the satellite “DFH-Ⅰ”, he brought forward the whole ground test plans which contributed to the success of the launch. During the develoment of the communication satellite “DFH-Ⅱ”, he made the criterion for satellite design, and set up a realiability center of electronics unit, which contributed to the improved realiability of satellites and gained precious experiences for long-life satellites. When he was in charge of “DFH-Ⅲ”, the secend generation of broadcasting satellite,he adopted modular design principle, which made the satellite designing technology a step further, and became a mature general testbed for the subsequent satellites.
The sucessful flight of the fourth unmanned “Shenzhou” spacecraft paved the road for the “Shenzhou 5”, the first manned spacecraft flight in China history. As the chief designer, he played an important role in directing and decision making to solve important engineering issues, and made systematic, creative achievement. Qi Faren was awarded the highest national prize for State Science and Technology Progress in 1985, other several national science and technology prizes and the China EST Guanghua Prize in 2000. He was awarded the “Qiushi” Palmary Technology & Achievement Collectivity Prize in 2003.
Now Prof. Qi is an consultant of China Academy of Space Technology, and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, he also is an academician of the International Academy of Astronautics, and the vice president of the COSPAR’s Chinese Department.