Trajectory for Chang'e 4 rocket designed by Ningbo academician

Yu Menglun, native to Cixi city of Ningbo, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and a pioneer in China's carrier rocket trajectory design [Photo/IC]

With the successful landing of China's Chang'e 4 lunar probe on the far side of the moon on Jan 3, Yu Menglun, a Ningbo academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, came into focus, as it was the research group led by him that designed the trajectory of the Long March 3B carrier rocket atop which the probe was launched. 

The trajectory design of a carrier rocket, including the take-off point, velocity, altitude and load of rocket, is of pivotal importance to the smooth launch of the probe. 

The precision of the Long March 3B carrier rocket that carries Chang'e 4 lunar probe entering the orbit is increased by 30 percent compared with the situation of Chang'e 3. 

"The rocket launch cannot be 100 percent successful. Risks still exist despite a rapid rise of successful launches in the last decade," said Yu. 

Native to Cixi city of Ningbo, Yu moved to Shanghai with his parents at the age of two. He graduated from the department of mathematics of Peking University, and was selected as an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1999. 

Yu works for the First Research Institute of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. The group led by him was established in 1966 and pioneered the carrier rocket trajectory design in China. It was named after Yu in 2009 and was the nation's first high-tech research group named after an academician. 

Yu and his group have designed the trajectory for many domestic missiles and carrier rockets over the five decades, greatly pushing forward the development of China's space technology. 

When the first photo taken of the far side of the moon by cameras on the probe's lander was sent back, Yu immediately shared it with the Ningbo Academician Service and Consulting Center. 

"The landing might be a small step on the moon, but means a great leap forward for humankind. I'd like to share the great news with my fellow countrymen," said Yu.