Special Edition | "We Have Caught Up with the Spring of China's Space Program"

"We Have Caught Up with the Spring of China's Space Program"

■ PLA Daily Reporter Zhao Qian

On the eve of the Shenzhou-23 crewed mission, at the launch site of the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, Pan Tao, a technician in the launch-and-test room, was working in a state of focused intensity. During a brief pause, a colleague sent him a video screenshot and excitedly asked: "Is this you?"

The footage was shot by CCTV many years ago. On the day the Shenzhou-5 crewed spacecraft launched, Pan Tao—dressed in a light-blue anti-static suit—was working in a corner of the hall with several colleagues.

That slightly blurry image pulled Pan Tao's memory back 23 years in an instant. That year, filled with burning enthusiasm for the space cause, the soon-to-graduate Pan Tao unhesitatingly chose the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, far from his hometown.

"In the future, humanity will be able to use crewed spaceflight as a bridge to develop an even better living space." For Pan Tao, choosing crewed spaceflight as his life's work was well worth it. He still remembers that after the rocket launched that year, the fairing of the Shenzhou-5 crewed spacecraft opened, a ray of sunlight shone into the cabin, and astronaut Yang Liwei instinctively blinked. At that moment, many in the space program wept.

The pace of the times moved faster than anyone had imagined. From "one person, one day" to "multiple people, multiple days" and then to "the first steps of a Chinese person walking in space," China's crewed spaceflight program has advanced in great strides. By then, Pan Tao had grown from a rocket propulsion system operator into a rocket control system commander—"the pressure I face keeps growing."

For those in the space program, success or failure hangs by a thread; every operation must be precise, and not a single link can go wrong. To ensure the rocket is in normal condition for every launch mission, Pan Tao led his team in refining procedures again and again and drilling operations time after time. Sometimes, in order to find the cause of a fault, he would be turning over solutions even while eating. He said: "For me, this is both a mission and a calling."

In September 2010, China's crewed space station program was formally initiated. As the space cause continued to enter new phases, the challenges facing those in the program were also unprecedented.

Crewed spaceflight is a vast systems engineering endeavor, and every "gear" within it turns for the same belief. In 2016, Pan Tao served as the rocket control system commander for the Tiangong-2 space laboratory flight mission and the Shenzhou-11 crewed flight mission. He led his team to control every data point and strictly guard every checkpoint to the standard of "zero mistakes, zero errors, zero flaws." He recalled: "The missions were running in parallel, problems piled on top of problems, and to race against time, everyone went days barely sleeping."

"The era chose me, and it also tempered me." Pan Tao feels that it was precisely those arduous missions that gave him a far deeper understanding of the crewed spaceflight spirit (载人航天精神) of "especially able to endure hardship, especially able to fight, especially able to tackle key problems, especially able to dedicate (特别能吃苦、特别能战斗、特别能攻关、特别能奉献)."

In 2021, China entered the space station era, and the vast universe finally had our own "home in space." Excited as he was, Pan Tao felt the weight on his shoulders grow heavier.

During space station operations, crewed Earth-orbit round trips became routine, and the frequency, duration, and mission complexity of extravehicular activities in low Earth orbit increased significantly. "The more this is the case, the more we need the fighting spirit (战斗精神) to keep pressing forward." Pan Tao said China's steps in exploring space will grow larger and reach farther. As a member of the space program, he too must stand higher and see farther, contributing his strength to the sustainable development of crewed spaceflight. He places particular emphasis on building a talent pipeline and optimizing work models, driving continuous leaps in the team's overall capability through lesson-plan updates, research-topic guidance, and mission-based tempering.

Each generation has its own mission and responsibility. Pan Tao says that within the team, "veteran space workers" like himself have lost none of their enthusiasm. Those born in the 1970s and 1980s can endure hardship, are willing to take responsibility, and carry the banner; those born in the 1990s and 2000s have broad horizons, fresh thinking, and drive. As missions follow one after another, many young people "hit the ground running straight out of school," becoming the backbone at critical posts. In a few more years, Pan Tao will reach retirement age. He said with full confidence: "I have no worries. The younger generation will definitely do better than we did."

Over the years, Pan Tao's family has been proud of him. His son has taken to introducing himself this way: "I grew up in Dongfeng Space City; both my parents are space science and technology workers."

When asked about the sense of honor that comes with "standing in the spotlight," Pan Tao said: "It's not that we are so remarkable—it's that the country has grown strong. We have caught up with the spring of China's space program."

"And it is precisely because we chose spaceflight that we have had the privilege of receiving the strong support of the motherland and the people." Pan Tao said that old colleagues often return to Dongfeng Space City and marvel: "The changes are truly enormous."

In the past, everyone lived at remote outposts, waking each day to nothing but the Gobi Desert. On weekends, making a long-distance call home meant waiting in line for hours. Transportation was inconvenient too—getting back to one's hometown took three days… It seems like just a brief moment, yet Dongfeng Space City has been transformed beyond recognition: new barracks have risen from the ground, trees and flowers grow in ever greater abundance, getting around has become ever more convenient, and it has become a dazzling pearl in the desert Gobi.

Pan Tao has one wish: after retirement, he wants to travel along the borders of the motherland, imprinting more of its magnificent landscapes upon his heart.

On May 24, the day of the Shenzhou-23 crewed flight mission, Pan Tao sat in the command-and-control hall, eyes fixed on the equipment screens, monitoring data in real time. At 23:08, the rocket cleaved the night sky trailing a plume of orange flame. After the successful launch, the "big red screen" (大红屏) lit up, and Pan Tao and his colleagues spontaneously rose to their feet and applauded warmly—for crewed spaceflight, for the great motherland.

[Caption] Following the successful launch of the Shenzhou-23 crewed spacecraft, launch-and-test room technicians pose for a group photo in front of the "big red screen." Photo by Wang Mingyan.

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Sweat Poured Across the Path to the Stars

■ Wang Mingyan, PLA Daily Reporters Li Weixin and Zhu Baiyan

[Caption] Before the launch of the Shenzhou-23 crewed spacecraft, technicians conduct a status inspection of components on the rocket. Photo by Zhang Yiming.

"3, 2, 1—ignition!" At 23:08 on May 24, amid a thunderous roar, the Shenzhou-23 crewed spacecraft was lifted into space atop a Long March carrier rocket.

At the same moment, inside the command-and-control hall of the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, launch-and-test room technicians fixed their sharp gaze on every critical data point as the rocket ascended. Behind every magnificent liftoff lies the smooth path to the stars that they have paved through precise testing and flawless operations.

Since its establishment in 1993, the launch-and-test room has shouldered the mission of rocket testing and launch, successfully completing Shenzhou, Tiangong, and other missions, and safely sending 30 astronauts—47 person-trips in total—into space.

**1 Hour — Reliability Is the Lifeline of the Mission**

"All stations, attention—one hour to readiness!" The voice of the No. 0 commander broke the silence of the hall. The command was then passed like a baton among the technicians of each system in the launch-and-test room.

"Station 22, acknowledged!" "Station 26, acknowledged!" … The responses were crisp and clean, meshing like precision gears without a single superfluous word.

This crispness stems from a belief etched into the bones of the launch-and-test system's technicians: "Nothing in spaceflight is trivial; success or failure hangs by a thread." It stems from an ironclad standard: "zero defects, zero doubts, zero faults." They know full well that in crewed spaceflight, a hair's-breadth difference concerns the safety of astronauts, and a split second determines the success or failure of the mission.

Organizing full-process, one-to-one live-action drills is standard practice in the launch-and-test system. From flight preparation to spacecraft-rocket separation, every link and every operation must be hammered into shape through a thousand trials, and the joint "crew-spacecraft-rocket-ground" (人船箭地) inspection must fit together without a gap—all to ensure that hidden dangers are eliminated on the ground, and absolute safety is protected through the utmost meticulousness.

Technician Li Hongyang is an operator in one subsystem. During one test, he was inspecting the exterior of a certain type of pyrotechnic device as required. As he rotated it slightly, an unusual discoloration on a membrane caught his attention. He retrieved a magnifying glass and examined it repeatedly—a tiny perforation was unmistakably there.

Technical analysis confirmed that although this hidden danger was small, it was sufficient to jeopardize engine operation after the rocket lifted off, and could even cause the launch mission to fail. Li Hongyang's "eagle eyes" had eliminated a major hazard.

Facing thousands of pieces of equipment and tens of thousands of operations, "zero errors" is nearly an impossible demand. The launch-and-test room has turned one "impossibility" after another into a benchmark through its extreme adherence to "strictness, caution, meticulousness, and practicality (严慎细实)." When compiling technical documentation, they dig deep and leave not a single doubt; for on-rocket operations, they use magnifying glasses to inspect every cable and every solder joint, and even a 0.1-millimeter abrasion or a 0.1-volt deviation has nowhere to hide.

"One extra measure of rigor on the ground means ten measures of safety in space. Better to do unnecessary work than to let a single doubt pass; better to suffer in vain than to miss a single flaw." The words of Zhao Lei, head of the launch-and-test room, carry the weight of iron.

**16 Days — Innovation Is the Engine of Breakthroughs**

On November 4, 2025, the Shenzhou-20 astronauts discovered during an inspection that the spacecraft's porthole appeared to have been struck by a small piece of space debris. On November 8, the mission general command post decided to implement a 16-day emergency launch procedure and conduct an emergency replacement launch of the Shenzhou-22 spacecraft.

Faced with this sudden development, all technicians in the launch-and-test room rapidly adjusted their footing and carried out comprehensive technical preparation and risk management. They verified every link repeatedly, striving to ensure the emergency launch mission was foolproof.

On November 25, the Long March 2F/Y22 carrier rocket ignited on schedule, lifting the Shenzhou-22 spacecraft toward Tiangong. China's crewed spaceflight program's first emergency launch mission was a complete success. After the mission, launch-and-test room technicians gathered in front of the "big red screen" for a group photo. In the photo, everyone's bearing is confident and composed.

Optimizing the test-and-launch procedure to guarantee quality while meeting the demands of high-frequency launches has always been one of the launch-and-test room's key research topics. During the preparation phase for the Tiangong-1 mission, facing an entirely new target vehicle, they carefully combed through the launch procedures of all previous Shenzhou missions and, on the basis of thorough scientific analysis, creatively proposed replacing the "two-fairing-encapsulation" scheme with a "one-fairing-encapsulation" scheme.

This scheme effectively optimized the launch procedure, cutting 21.5 days from the Shenzhou-7 mission timeline. After Tiangong-1 was successfully launched, they also successfully completed the Shenzhou-8 crewed spacecraft launch mission, with only 33 days between the two missions.

"Carrier rockets are enormously expensive, and live-equipment training is restricted. At the outset, none of us had any confidence that optimizing the test-and-launch procedure would work." Zhao Lei said candidly.

The only way to break through was innovation. At the time, each subsystem established a research group to study principles in depth, break down models, and test actual hardware. After half a year of effort, they finally turned an integrated simulation training system for space launches into reality. Using this system, launch-and-test room technicians routinely conduct simulated emergency training and mock launch drills, not only thoroughly validating the optimized procedures but also cultivating a cohort of elite personnel who understand the principles and are adept at handling contingencies—launch training has entered the "digital-intelligence era (数智时代)."

Innovation does not pause. Currently, the routine operation of the space station overlaps with a peak in missions, and the launch frequency at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center has leapt from "one launch every several years" to "multiple launches per year." The responsibilities are heavy and the challenges unprecedented. Zhao Lei and his team members understand: adapt and you will find a way through; find a way through and you will grow strong. Only by mastering new technologies and new methods can one prevail over new challenges.

Walking into the command-and-control hall, this reporter saw a giant central screen displaying the full mission process; the rocket digital co-flight system makes key nodes clearly visible, data readable in real time, and status precisely simulated, substantially improving the scientific quality of mission decision-making and work efficiency.

Through digital-intelligence empowerment (数智赋能) and innovation in command-and-organization models and optimization of test-and-launch procedures, the launch-and-test room has reduced the staffing configuration for space station missions by 25% and shortened the mission cycle by 14%. This suite of digital-intelligence achievements played a supporting role in the Shenzhou-22 crewed spacecraft emergency launch mission and was a key force in ensuring the mission's complete success.

**33 Years — Inheritance Is the Continuation of the Bloodline**

In the rocket system test area of the launch-and-test hall, technician Du Xinyue stared intently at the parameters flickering on her screen. "Rocket escape authorized!" "Spacecraft escape authorized!" Her reports rang out clear and resonant. Only two years into the job, she already displayed the confidence of someone who can hold her own. At that moment, Zhao Lei, also present in the test area, could not help giving his apprentice a thumbs-up.

"Crewed spaceflight concerns human lives! Getting it right the first time, every time, is the highest standard and the baseline requirement." This was the first lesson Zhao Lei imparted to Du Xinyue when she first joined the launch-and-test room.

During one power-on test, an indicator light lit up abnormally. Although investigation determined it was harmless, Zhao Lei did not take it lightly. He took Du Xinyue through a deep dive into the underlying principles, running through the analysis repeatedly until the mechanism was completely clear. The conclusion did not change, but both master and apprentice felt completely at ease.

Inspection after inspection, mission after mission, Du Xinyue listened, followed, and practiced, steadily taking on the weight of responsibility. Looking across the test area, emerging talent is showing its edge, backbone veterans are shouldering heavy loads, and senior experts are serving as the "stabilizing anchors (定海神针)." Over 33 years, the launch-and-test room has been running a relay race across time and space. With each baton pass, the precious experience forged at the post is transmitted without reservation through word and deed.

When young space worker Zhou Yong first joined, he was at a loss. Veteran Pan Tao guided him step by step from the basics, breaking down specialized knowledge from the surface to the core, and guiding him to independently analyze faults and solve problems. In just one year, he had been cultivated into a technical backbone.

In Zhao Lei's memory, when he himself first took on the role of No. 0 commander, he too benefited from a veteran who accompanied him through the full rehearsal process. From the standard of enunciating commands "clearly and correctly (字正腔圆)" to contingency plans for extreme faults—polished sentence by sentence, tempered pass after pass—this helped him deliver a performance that drew universal acclaim on his debut: facing a rapidly shifting situation and sudden developments, his assessments were precise and his commands decisive, displaying every mark of composure.

Today, as head of the launch-and-test room, Zhao Lei has solemnly passed the baton to the No. 0 commander for the Shenzhou-23 launch mission, transmitting—just as his predecessors did, faithfully and without alteration—both the technical knowledge and the original intent.

From handwritten readouts to digital-intelligence monitoring, technical methods have been iteratively upgraded, yet the sincerity passed down through the generations has never faded. Generation after generation of launch-and-test personnel have carried forward in relay the creed of "getting it right the first time, strictness-caution-meticulousness-practicality, and relentless pursuit of excellence (一次做对、严慎细实、精益求精)," forging ever more refined standards and an ever more resolute work ethic.

The river of time surges ever forward. With reliability that races against every second, innovation that presses boldly ahead, and a commitment passed down from generation to generation, the launch-and-test room has inscribed a solid coordinate belonging to China's space program across the vast starry expanse.

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One Kilometer Apart, Guarding the Same Sky Together

■ PLA Daily Reporters Zhu Baiyan and Li Weixin

One hour before the Shenzhou-23 crewed spacecraft ignited, inside the command-and-control hall of the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, data streams refreshed in real time on the electronic display screen at the front, and indicator lights on various pieces of equipment blinked in alternation.

When the dispatch command "tank pressurization" rang out, launch-and-test room technician Li Miaomiao immediately turned the valve to pressurize the rocket's propellant tanks. Her post keeps constant company with high-pressure gas and propellants year-round; she is the guardian of the rocket's "heart."

At the same moment, launch-and-test room technician Sun Hui was sitting in the launch-and-test hall, continuously monitoring equipment status to ensure everything was normal before launch. The fault detection system at his post is a system unique to crewed rockets—the "protective umbrella" that safeguards astronaut safety during the rocket launch process.

Two space workers at different posts were both contributing their strength to the Shenzhou-23 mission. Beyond being colleagues fighting side by side, they are also a "space couple."

In 2011, Sun Hui graduated from Zhejiang University and resolutely devoted himself to the motherland's space cause, becoming a technician in the launch-and-test room at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. Three years later, Li Miaomiao—equally driven by the dream of serving the country—graduated with a master's degree from Beijing Institute of Technology, gave up job opportunities in a major city, came to Jiuquan, and also became a technician in the launch-and-test room.

Though assigned to different systems and carrying different responsibilities, the two like-minded young people noticed each other. "Miaomiao is a person of few words—a doer who gets things done." Sun Hui said that this is precisely what he admires most about Li Miaomiao. "Hundreds of data points, and she insists on going through them one by one. The data she organizes has almost never had an error." More than once, Sun Hui had already finished his work and was ready to leave for the day, while Li Miaomiao was still focused on checking the data in her hands.

A shared dream of spaceflight brought together these two young people—one from the north, one from the south, with very different upbringings—to know and keep each other in the depths of the Gobi. In 2015, they walked down the aisle together. Life after marriage remained just as busy, yet their mutual understanding and support grew ever deeper.

Before one mission, a leader approached Li Miaomiao and asked whether she would be willing to serve as the propulsion system commander. Faced with more complex work, heavier pressure, and greater responsibility, Li Miaomiao barely hesitated: "The organization needs me, so I'll do it."

Back home, Li Miaomiao told Sun Hui. Sun Hui was not the least bit surprised. He told this reporter: "You can tell from the way she works—she is a person with a deep sense of mission (情怀)."

That unhesitating response came from a profound mutual understanding and trust between husband and wife. Li Miaomiao knows full well that her husband Sun Hui is equally a dedicated, hardworking person who always keeps work at heart. He once spent his time outside regular duties—in order to optimize a testing procedure—in deep study and repeated deliberation, ultimately finding a solution that significantly shortened testing time and improved efficiency. Faults and anomalies that arose during missions were also resolved one by one through his deep professional grounding and precise command of the equipment.

During the preparation period for the Shenzhou-23 mission, Li Miaomiao was often operating on the launch tower, while Sun Hui was monitoring data in the launch-and-test hall approximately one kilometer away. The two stood guard side by side over the same spaceflight cause.

"Every day we leave home together, each heading to our own post, then come home together after work—day after day, year after year. This is our own particular kind of romance." Li Miaomiao said. Although they stand watch at the launch tower, the couple has never watched a rocket lift off together. Their most ceremonial shared ritual is this: after each successful launch, they stand side by side in front of the mission-success "big red screen" for a commemorative photo.

In those photos, Sun Hui and Li Miaomiao are beaming. They are one couple among the many "space couples" of Dongfeng Space City, and a microcosm of the countless space families who quietly dedicate themselves to the great cause of spaceflight. Their side-by-side presence is a faithful discharge of duty at their posts—and a vow to serve the country, written together in youth and sweat.