Quick Facts
Biography
Tu Shou'e or Shou-ngo Tu (simplified Chinese: 屠守锷; traditional Chinese: 屠守鍔; pinyin: Tú Shǒuè; Wade–Giles: T'u Shou-o) was a Chinese expert professional in rocket technology and structural mechanics. Tu is famous as the chief designer of Long March 2 rocket and Chinese intercontinental missile.
Together with Liang Shoupan, Huang Weilu and Ren Xinmin, Tu is considered one of the "Four Elders of China's Aerospace". They were granted the Two Bombs and One Satellite Merit Medal in 1999. Tu was elected Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1991.
Early life and education
Tu was born at Nanxun, Huzhou in 1917, he completed his primary education in Zhejiang and then study at Shanghai High School. The pervading sense of Japanese menace germinated an idea that China should have the independent capacity to manufacture plane in his mind. Thus he was recruited for the special study class, which aimed at training aeronautical talent and was extended as Aeronautic Engineering Department in 1938, after entered Tsinghua University.
Career
After graduation, Tu worked at an aeronautical institute in Chengdu. He went to MIT in 1941 with full scholarship and received master's degree there. Then Tu served Curtiss-Wright Corporation as a stress analyst, but he backed to China following the surrender of Japan in 1945, teaching at his alma mater as an associate professor and then a professor.
Tu reached Beijing after the university. Since the Adjustment of University Colleges & Departments in 1952, he was assigned to Beijing Aviation Institute. He had served successively as vice dean, dean and the assistant of president there.
Later Tu was invited to serve the Fifth Academy of the Ministry of Defence in 1957. From then on, Tu plunged himself into Chinese missile and aerospace project, especially its system design aspect. He was the deputy chief designer of Dongfeng 2 and Dongfeng 3, also the chief designer of Dongfeng 5 and Long March 2. He made several significant breakthrough in the field.
The vicissitudes of his life in the decade never rob his enthusiasm for search. He once completely absorbed in the formula during a struggle session, ignoring the impassioned speech.
Tu felt very sorry for the Columbia disaster in 2003, but he also insisted that the progress of space science is unstoppable, while China "is still on track to launch its first manned spacecraft".
Personal
Tu joined in the CPC in 1948.
Tu enjoyed tai chi and classic music. He and his wife, Qiu Su (Chinese: 秋粟), had five children.