"Ignition!"
At 21:35 on April 24, 1970, China's first artificial earth satellite "Dongfanghong I" was ignited at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, knocking on the door to the vast universe. Since then, China has become the fifth country in the world to develop and launch artificial satellites on its own.
"On National Day in 1964, a large-scale musical and dance epic "Dongfang Hong" was performed, and we went to see it at that time and were very impressed!" Hu Qi, a member of the overall group of the "Dongfanghong No. 1" satellite, said in an exclusive interview with The People's Daily News. He Zhenghua, then head of the overall satellite group, immediately proposed that the satellite be named "Dongfanghong No. 1" and named it .
The overall combination of the "Dongfanghong No. 1" satellite (He Zhenghua in the back row right, Hu Qizheng in the front row right). Courtesy of respondents
"Previously, we all called it 'the first satellite on the mainland'. It was probably not until 1967 that it was officially named 'Dongfanghong No.1'. Hu Qizheng said.
"We hope that everyone can hear the call sign of this satellite and recognize that this is our satellite." Hu Qizheng sighed that at the beginning, scientists only wanted to use the initial telegram code of the word "Dong" as a transmission call sign, and after the team's unremitting efforts, it was not easy to finally let the "Dongfang Hong" music play in space, and really let the satellite "listen".
"Dongfanghong No.1" satellite music box. Courtesy of the Fifth Academy of Aerospace Group
Let the world "see" China, let the universe "hear" "Dongfang Hong". This is the crystallization of the collective wisdom of the first generation of astronauts, and it is also the spiritual inheritance of generations of astronauts.
Source: People's Daily - Strong Countries Forum