Liu Zhusheng, chief designer of the launch systems for China’s manned space flight program, began his career in 1963. He is particularly noted for the engineering of launch vehicle stage separation technology. Widely used for subsequent rockets, the technology enabled China to be ranked among the world’s top producers of rockets with attached boosters.

Ace Rocket Engineer

A native of Northeast China, after graduating from high school, Liu Zhusheng entered the prestigious Harbin Institute of Technology, initially majoring in precision instrument technology, then moving into the study of the chemical industry. In 1959, he refocused his academic attention to mechanics, due to the expansion of the department of chemical industry. When studies in missile technology were established in the institute, the major of mechanics was incorporated into the new department. After graduation, Liu was recruited by a research institute under the Ministry of National Defense, and thus he entered the aerospace industry.

In the summer of 1990, Liu encountered the greatest challenge in his decades-long career. At a time when China was moving into the international aerospace market, whether the nation would successfully launch Aussate satellite launched by a Long March II booster-propelled launch vehicle was pivotal to its international launch service ambitions.

Without similar successful precedent at the time, Liu led his colleagues in developing techniques of binding four boosters to the Long March II rocket and enabling them to separate reliably from the rocket during launch. The hard-working Liu forgot about sleep and food. He even knocked on the doors of his colleagues late at night after coming up with an inspiration and worked overnight in the office. During his research, Liu not only put forward the scheme of strap and separation technology, but also completed the work of cowling separation. Finally, with his colleagues, Liu successfully designed an entirely new type of Long March II rocket with attached boosters, and projected the Aussate into space.

In 1997, Liu shouldered the task of chief designer of the Long March 2F rocket. At the time, China’s rocket cowling was overthing in the world.” Every time a rocket is ready to be launched, he does not want to leave the launch site for even a short while. He always watches and touches it tenderly and carefully. Although it is all made of metal, he regards it almost as a living thing.
From Shenzhou I to Shenzhou VI, it was rockets that sent the spacecrafts into space, and Liu thus earned the praise as “ace rocket engineer.”

Art Genius

As the trailblazer of the strap and separation technology of carrier rockets, Liu is of great renown. However, not many know that his interest was in fine arts when he was in middle school. Particularly good at oil painting, he vividly portrayed Chairman Mao. A Young Woman on his desk is the portrait of his wife created by him in the early days.

While working in the desert, he derives inspiration from collecting stones of various forms and sapless tree roots. In his eyes, rockets also have intelligence. “If you treat them well, they will be friendly to you, too.” In his office at the aerospace base, stones are everywhere: on windowsills and on the floor. “I can sometimes take a look at them when they are here, but once they are transported back to my home in Beijing, I will weight. Together with other designers, he reckoned systematically the load of the rocket and redesigned some components. Meanwhile, he raised the idea of increasing the weight of the engine of the escape rocket and finally overcame various technical difficulties.

Ordinarily, Liu is a quiet man, but when talking about rockets, he beams with joy. “In my heart, a rocket is the most beautiful have no time to take care of them. I’m still too busy now. After retiring, I will spend much more time on these stones.”

Three Dreams

August 12, 2005: Liu Zhusheng talks about the Shenzhou VI spacecraft. (Image: China Pictorial/Hai Han)Speaking of his decades-long rocket career, Liu recalled, “It is my three dreams that support my life-long profession. The first one derives from the traditional Chinese legend of Chang’e who, after stealing her husband’s elixir and fleeing to the moon, became immortal and was forever secluded. That can be my initial dream of flying. The second one is astronautic dream, because I’m very interested in the theory of relativity and celestial bodies, and always want to have a look into the space. The third one is the dream of building up a puissant nation. The more new types of rockets we develop, the further China’s astronautic industry goes. My work suits me well.”

Liu is very concerned about the future of satellite launching. “Currently in the satellite launch market, supply falls short of demand. The competition among the US, European Space Agency, Russia, Ukraine and Japan is furious. For us, we must continue to advance and develop further our technologies.”