Early in the morning on December 6th, 2020,

Chang'e-5, a combination of ascender, orbiter, and returner,

accomplished RVD(RVD)

in the lunar orbit, 380,000 kilometers away from the earth.

In this RVD mission,

Microwave radar signal processor

and microwave transponder signal processor,

developed by BIT Aerospace Electronic Technology Research Team,

completed the measurement of the relative position

and motion state in the RVD process

and the transmission of two-way information

Under the leadership of Professor Wu Siliang and Professor Cui Wei,

this team has started to research on spacecraft

co-location measurement technology since 2003

to develop a signal processor, which looks like a brain of microwave radar system for RVD.

After serving many previous RVDs of manned spaceflight

this is the first time that this series of radar brains

guided the spacecraft in extraterrestrial space, where the

ground information support capabilities are limited.

This is also the first time that China’s spacecraft

accomplishes lunar orbital RVD,

and that China’s spacecraft travels 380,000 kilometers for

"holding hands in the space".

There is great honor in serving the country

With science and technology.

BITers accept missions without fear

and achieve outstanding results.

Under the leadership of Professor Wu Siliang, a national model teacher, the BIT Aerospace Electronics Technology Research Team always adheres to the belief that “There is great honor in serving the country with science and technology.” The team closely follows the major needs of the country and conducts irreplaceable and innovative researches.

The team successively developed a series of special missile-range-instrumentation radars, type I space-based space target measurement radar, type I satellite-borne autonomous threat warning radar, type I new system high-orbit navigation terminal, type I integrated measurement and control relay data transmission terminal, Beidou-3 navigation satellite emergency measurement and control data transmission integrated machine, etc., which have been successfully applied to various environments and spacecrafts, making contributions to the docking of Tiangong and Shenzhou Spaceship, the space ferry, the network of Beidou satellite, the satellite protection and so on. Because of inventions mentioned above, the team has won the first and second prizes of the National Technology Invention Award.

At the same time, the team combines major scientific research tasks and cultivating students' patriotism, innovation ability, work style, and spirit of struggle. It continuously sends professional and talented students with firm beliefs and high aspirations to the key national scientific research institutes. In the past 5 years, 5 graduates have obtained excellent graduate dissertations of the National First-level Society, and a group of outstanding graduates are active on the frontline of science and technology engineering, such as Dr. Ma Lin, deputy director designer of the GNC sub-system of Chang'e 5 from the Institute 502, No.5 Institute of Aerospace Science and Technology Group.

The successful completion of leading Chang'e home marks that the team has accomplished a perfect ending in the Beidou network, manned spaceflight, and Chang'e lunar exploration during the 13th Five-Year Plan, and opened a new stage of its space-based radar technology development. In the next three years, over ten radars or signal processors developed by the aerospace electronics technology research team will enter space to serve China’s space station construction and other major national projects.

Related Lunar orbital microwave radar achievements

were successfully employed in China’s manned space project

including previous RVD missions in low earth orbit of

Shenzhou-8, 9, 10, Tiangong-1,

Shenzhou-11, Tiangong-2,

Tianzhou-1, and Tiangong-2

RVD

Let’s review the past "Space Kisses" together

Shenzhou-8 and Tiangong-1’s RVD

In the early morning of November 3, 2011, the Shenzhou-8 spacecraft crossed nearly 1.3 million kilometers of pursuit and tightly embraced the Tiangong-1 target vehicle in the vast space. The first space RVD of the manned space project was a complete success. The microwave radar signal processor and microwave transponder signal processor performed excellently, which were developed by Professor Wu Siliang's research group from the BIT Institute of Radar Technology.

Shenzhou-9 and Tiangong-1’s rendezvous and docking

The RVD microwave radar signal processor and microwave transponder signal processor developed by the research group of Professor Wu Siliang from the BIT Institute of Radar Technology, School of Information and Electronics, were used in the automatic and manual RVD between Shenzhou-9 and Tiangong-1. In the three manual separation missions, they all worked stably and reliably, accurately providing the relative position and motion parameter measurement information of the two aircraft, which contributed to the complete success of my country’s first manned RVD mission.

Shenzhou-10 and Tiangong-1 RVD

In the morning of June 25, 2013, the Tiangong-1 and Shenzhou-10 combination successfully separated. Shenzhou-10 flew from above Tiangong-1 to its rear, and completed a close rendezvous, which was the first time that my country successfully implemented a spacecraft orbiting rendezvous test. The RVD microwave radar signal processor and microwave transponder signal processor developed by the research group of Professor Wu Siliang from the BIT Institute of Radar Technology, accurately provided the relative position and motion parameter measurement information of the two aircraft in this RVD mission.

Shenzhou-1 and Tiangong-2 RVD

The "Microwave Radar Signal Processor Technology" from BIT has become the "standard equipment" for China's spacecraft RVD. It provides accurate relative position and motion parameter measurement information for "Shenzhou" and "Tiangong" to achieve a "precise kiss" in the vast space.

Tianzhou-1 and Tiangong-2 RVD

The "Tianzhou-1" microwave radar signal processor and the "Tiangong-2" microwave transponder signal processor developed by Professor Wu Siliang and Professor Cui Wei from the Aerospace Electronics Technology Research Team of the School of Information and Electronics of BIT had provided "Tianzhou" and "Tiangong" with accurate relative position and motion parameter measurement information, and will guide "Tianzhou" and "Tiangong" to complete three "space kisses".

From "a kiss in the space"

to the "perfect hug" 380,000 kilometers away

BITers are struggling unremittingly on the road of "expanding the sky"

showing majestic ambitions and making new achievements

In the future, BITers will continue

to climbe the summit of aerospace science

and technology and bravely exploring "no man's land"

with rigorous scientific attitudes and the courage to be self-reliant

We will never stop