Sun Jiadong

Sun Jiadong (; born 8 April 1929) is a Chinese aerospace engineer who is an expert in carrier rocket and satellite technology. He has long served as a leader of Chinese satellite projects, and is currently the chief designer for the Chinese Lunar Exploration Program. Sun is a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and of the International Academy of Astronautics. Jiadong is also known as the " Father of Chinese Satellites".

Sun was bestowed the Medal of the Republic, the highest honorary medal of the People's Republic of China, in September 2019.

Early life Sun was born in Fu County, Liaoning on 8 April 1929. He enrolled in the Harbin Institute of Technology to begin preparatory courses in Russian when he was 18. Later he transferred to the automotive department. Around the time of the Chinese air force formation, he was chosen to join the army as a Russian translator. In 1951, Sun and 29 other soldiers were sent to study aircraft engines at the Zhukovsky Air Force Academy in the Soviet Union. In 1958, Sun graduated "with highest honor" and returned to China.

Career After returning to China, Sun served in the Fifth Research Institute of the Ministry of National Defense, conducting missile research. In 1967, he was appointed by Qian Xuesen to restructure the staff for satellite research.

Since 2003, he has been the chief designer for the Chinese Lunar Exploration Program (CLEP).

Awards and honours 1980 the honorary title of a working model in No 7 Engineering Industry Department 2019 Order of the Republic