What is the definition of “excellence”? This often enigmatic concept may describe the investigators and researchers who try to understand the world, with the ultimate aim of publishing scholarly articles; those who dedicate themselves to major national projects, and make problem solving their lifelong goal; or those who work to develop the national economy with new technologies. The recent ascendancy of research article-driven metrics to evaluate “excellence” has led to a primary focus on basic research to understand the world,with little attention on how engineering and technological developments also contribute.

The Wang Daheng Class of Excellence and the Wang Daheng Class of Elites were founded by the Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics (CIOMP) with the support of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and in cooperation with the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) and Zhejiang University. In 2009 and 2014,these classes combined CIOMP’s outstanding educational resources with its premier research facilities and major projects expertise to develop the leaders required to fulfill the country’s overriding national strategies. Given the current evaluation system and trends abroad, the Class of Excellence remains solely focused on research goals.

To demonstrate the allure and worthiness of major projects, 10 students were invited to the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center to attend the Jilin-1 launching ceremony and related events from 5 to 7 October. Prof. Wang Yong, the Vice President of IT Science at USTC, also attended the events.

At 12:13p.m. on 7 October, with a rumbling bass, the rocket carrying Jilin-1 blasted off and flew into a successful orbit.Jilin-1 is a commercial remote sensing satellite, and is the first commercial satellite developed by China. The launch was a milestone for the development of remote sensing satellite technology and for the Chinese aerospace information industry as a whole. It also marked the move towards commercial development of aerospace remote sensing applications.

During the launch, there was a palpable and powerful sense of awe and pride among the students. Afterwards, they learned from research staff that the Jilin-1 satellite was developed through a long and difficult process that required tenacity, teamwork, smart thinking and deep resources. The research group took a decade to develop satellites, overcoming technical difficulties and challenges, and leading to many “firsts”in research and technology for China. The students subsequently reported a desire to dedicate themselves to both national science and technology.

The research and development underlying Jilin-1 were studied in the early Classes of Excellence. XIE Xiaoguang, who was in charge of Jilin-1’s structure subsystem, was in the 2014 class. After graduation that year, he resolutely chose to participate in major projects, continuing his research and development on satellites in CIOMP. He shared his path from student to director of national projects subsystems. Upon learning about his experiences, the students reiterated their desire and enthusiasm for research work.

The students benefited from visits to historical sites such as WenTian House, the Dong Fanghong satellite spaceport and the manned-space launch base. They learned of the pioneers QIAN Xuesen, QIAN Sanqiang, GUO Yonghuai, WANG Daheng and other trailblazing scientists. They also deeply felt the hardships of previous generations who were dedicated to aerospace research and development. It was clear to all that the achievements of the Jilin-1 mission and other endeavours would not have been possible without these heroes’ fantastic dedication and aptitude. The students truly understood the ultimate meaning of the spirit behind the “Two Bombs and One Satellite” program, which calls for a “special ability to endure hardship, to fight, to research, to dedicate”. At the Dongfeng Revolutionary Martyrs Memorial Park, teacher Fang and the students presented bouquets for Marshal NieRongzhen and others who sacrificed their lives in the construction of the launch base.

The visit to the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center gave the students a deep understanding of the development of China’a space industry, and enhanced their sense of social responsibility. It also stimulated the students to further develop their professional capabilities and to serve the national defense and aerospace industry in the future.