Carry forward the spirit of lunar exploration and bravely climb the peak of science and technology

Source: People's Daily

Exploring the vast universe and making peaceful use of space is the thousand-year-old dream and unswerving pursuit of the Chinese nation. In the face of the complex and unknown earth-moon space environment, in the face of far-reaching space measurement and control communications and other difficulties, since the establishment of China's lunar exploration project in January 2004, all the personnel involved in the development and construction have braved difficulties and innovations, created a Chinese miracle of lunar exploration, and nurtured the spirit of lunar exploration that chases dreams, has the courage to explore, coordinate attacks, and cooperates in win-win cooperation. In February 2021, when meeting with the representatives of the participants of the Chang'e-5 mission of the lunar exploration project and visiting the moon samples and the exhibition of the achievements of the lunar exploration project, General Secretary Xi Jinping stressed: "We must carry forward the spirit of lunar exploration, give full play to the advantages of the new national system, bravely climb the peak of science and technology, serve the overall situation of national development, step by step to open a new journey of interstellar exploration, continuously promote the innovative development of China's aerospace industry, and make new and greater contributions to the peaceful use of space by mankind." ”

Every bold idea of lunar exploration, every successful implementation, is a full demonstration of humanity's ability to understand and use the planet. As China's first direct exploration of celestial bodies beyond the earth, the lunar exploration project is a frontier project in the field of science and technology in the world with a large scale, complex system and high integration. In 2007, Chang'e-1 successfully explored the moon, becoming the third milestone in China's aerospace; in 2010, Chang'e-2 obtained the highest international resolution full-moon image map at that time; in 2013, Chang'e-3 successfully landed on the moon and carried out lunar surface inspection and survey to achieve China's first direct detection of soft landing of extraterrestrial objects; in 2014, the re-entry and return flight test mission was successful, breaking through and mastering the key technology of the spacecraft's re-entry and return at a speed close to the second cosmic speed; in 2019, Chang'e-4 for the first time to achieve human spacecraft on the far side of the moon soft landing and patrol exploration, the moon back and the earth relay communication; in 2020, Chang'e 5 for the first time to achieve China's extraterrestrial object sample return. From shooting around the moon to leap detection, from landing on the back of the moon to sampling at the end of the moon, the lunar exploration project has won six battles and six victories, and the three-step plan of "circling, falling, and returning" has come to a successful conclusion. This achievement condenses the wisdom and painstaking efforts of several generations of astronauts, relies on the comprehensive strength of our country, and gathers the overall strength of the Chinese people, and the most important significance embodied in this achievement is to further enhance the determination and self-confidence of the people of all ethnic groups throughout the country to uphold and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Great causes breed great spirits, and great spirits lead great causes. Since the establishment of the lunar exploration project, the lunar explorers have insisted on chasing their dreams, not shrinking back in the face of difficulties, and not giving up in the face of setbacks, reflecting the responsibility of striving to build a space power and a world scientific and technological power; persisting in the courage to explore, daring to play chess first, and being good at fighting the initiative battle, showing the pursuit of self-improvement and innovation; persisting in coordinated attacks, making every effort to ensure success, vigorously coordinating and closely cooperating, and laying the hongqiao of the earth and the moon with one heart, setting up a model of collaborative innovation and hard work; adhering to win-win cooperation. Extensive and in-depth international exchanges and cooperation in the field of deep space exploration with many countries and international organizations have demonstrated the concept of mutual benefit and common development. In the process of striving to explore the frontiers of science, the older generation of scientific and technological workers who participated in the development and construction of the lunar exploration project took the lead in setting an example, indifferent to fame and fortune, and teaching by example; a large number of middle-aged and young scientific and technological backbones worked hard, stood out, and dedicated themselves wholeheartedly; the spirit of lunar exploration condensed in them is in the same vein as the spirit of "two bombs and one satellite" forged by China's aerospace industry and the spirit of manned spaceflight, and has become an important part of the spiritual genealogy of the Chinese communists. The outstanding merits they have established in climbing the peak of science and technology and exploring the mysteries of the universe play an important role in further enhancing China's economic strength, scientific and technological strength, national cohesion and international influence, and encouraging the whole party and the people of all ethnic groups in the country to stride forward toward the grand blueprint.

General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out: "Only innovation can be self-reliant and compete for the first, we must unswervingly take the road of independent innovation, and firmly grasp the initiative of innovation and development in our own hands." "Embarking on a new journey of comprehensively building a modern socialist country, scientific and technological innovation has a very important position and role in the overall development of the party and the country." Facing the future, if we grasp scientific and technological innovation, we will seize the bull nose that affects the overall situation of China's development. Striving for a new journey, building a new era of meritorious service, and accelerating the realization of high-level scientific and technological self-reliance and self-improvement, we must vigorously carry forward the spirit of lunar exploration, always adhere to the pursuit of dreams, step by step, stick after stick, in the struggle to run and continue to struggle to achieve dreams; always adhere to the courage to explore, and strive to achieve major breakthroughs in key core technologies, enhance the overall efficiency of the national innovation system, continuously enhance scientific and technological strength and innovation capabilities, and strive to occupy an important place in the world's high-tech field; always adhere to coordinated attack, Continue to give full play to the advantages of the new national system, systematic planning, scientific management, collective decision-making, the whole country plays a game of chess, make every effort to ensure success, and promote the innovative development of China's aerospace space science, space technology, and space applications; always adhere to win-win cooperation, strengthen international exchanges in basic scientific research, expand the ability to open up and cooperate in innovation, and benefit more other countries and peoples while achieving their own development, and promote the development of human science. Only by firmly establishing the ambition and confidence of daring to be the first in the world, daring to take the road that others have not taken, pursuing excellence in overcoming difficulties, and having the courage to create scientific and technological achievements that lead the trend of the world can the pace of Chinese exploration of space be more stable and farther.

"Exploring the vast universe, developing the space industry, and building a space power are the aerospace dreams that we unremittingly pursue." In the simulator training hall where astronauts are training, this slogan is very eye-catching. Great business starts with dreams, is based on innovation, and becomes successful in hard work. Inheriting and carrying forward the spirit of lunar exploration, redoubling efforts, uniting and working hard, reforming and innovating, and forging ahead, we will certainly be able to continue to write a new chapter in the development of China's aerospace industry, and make new and greater contributions to building a world scientific and technological power and realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation! (People's Daily commentator)

People's Daily (04/08/2021)