Biography.guide
Home › People › Physicist › Sun Jiadong
Portrait of Sun Jiadong

Sun Jiadong

b. 1929

Chinese scientist

Physicist Military flight engineer Aerospace engineer
Don't just read it — keep itBiographies to ownE-book · Audio · Video From $7 →

About Sun Jiadong

Born 1929. Sun Jiadong is a Chinese physicist, military flight engineer and aerospace engineer.

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

Biography shop

Don’t just read it —
keep it.

Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.

  • E-book
  • Audio
  • Video
Browse the shop — from $7

Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free

Important facts

Birth century
Education
Harbin Institute of Technology, Zhukovsky Air Force Engineering Academy
Positions held
Member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference
Awards
State Preeminent Science and Technology Award; Pioneer of Reform; Medal of the Republic; Highest Science and Technology Award

People in Sun Jiadong's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Sun Jiadong's

Frequently asked questions

Who is Sun Jiadong?

Chinese scientist

When was Sun Jiadong born?

Sun Jiadong was born on 8 April 1929 in Liaoning, Wafangdian.

What is Sun Jiadong's occupation?

Sun Jiadong is a physicist, military flight engineer and aerospace engineer.

What nationality is Sun Jiadong?

Sun Jiadong is Chinese.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Sun Jiadong

· Wikidata: Q986597

· DBpedia: Sun Jiadong

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Sun Jiadong. https://biography.guide/sun-jiadong/

MLA: "Sun Jiadong." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/sun-jiadong/.

Chicago: "Sun Jiadong." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/sun-jiadong/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Page generated 2026-09-27 05:26 UTC