BeiDou Satellite System: Launch personnel share their connection to mission

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CGTN's Tang Bo talked to two of the launch center's personnel to see how they feel about their connection with the mission.

This is a routine rehearsal for the twin satellite launch mission of the Beidou III network project. Leading the team is Wang Yibo, a commander of the satellite tracking system at Xichang Observatory.

He and his team provide the mission with optical and radar tracking services. It took only three years for Wang to be promoted from a basic level operator to a team leader. Along with the quick promotion comes pressure.

WANG YIBO, TRACKING SYSTEM COMMANDER XICHANG OBSERVATORY, XICHANG SATELLITE LAUNCH CENTER "Before, all I needed to worry about was my own duty in my post as an operator. But now as a tracking system commander, I must be fully aware of all the duty posts and types of system equipment and should be able to manage them well. That's a lot of pressure."

The pressure has especially mounted for this mission, where two satellites will be sent into orbit in just one go. So troubleshooting is all the more critical.

WANG YIBO, TRACKING SYSTEM COMMANDER XICHANG OBSERVATORY, XICHANG SATELLITE LAUNCH CENTER "In addition to the optical and radar tracking system, we have established a ground tracking system that can offer emergency and safeguard strategies if anything happens to the rocket during its flight."

TANG BO XICHANG "Wang Yibo has the ability to rapidly organize technicians on troubleshooting during launch missions. He is the only one in this unit that's received the award for scientific advancement in the area of radar technology in China. Others though are finding their own ways to contribute to the launch mission."

Guo Xiaoliang works as a telemetry operator at the observatory. Having majored in electronic and information engineering at college, he has found a perfect, but at the same time, extremely demanding job.

GUO XIAOLIANG, TELEMETRY OPERATOR XICHANG OBSERVATORY, XICHANG SATELLITE LAUNCH CENTER "As a student, you can always find a way to make up for it when you can't hand in your assignment on time. But when doing aerospace projects, there is only one chance. So everything we do here must be perfect."

Guo is young, but has gained quick experience after taking part in several Beidou satellite launch missions. He says the experience has brought him a peaceful state of mind, which will further help him with future missions that require more accuracy, patience, and stability. Tang Bo, CGTN, Xichang, Sichuan Province.