The Long March Toward the Stars

Pan Gaofeng, a young rocket development engineer born in the 1980s, joined China’s cradle of carrier rocket research—the First Academy of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC)—after completing his graduate studies. He was fortunate to become a member of the development team for “Fat Five” (Long March 5, CZ-5), China’s most powerful carrier rocket. Together with his predecessors and colleagues, he overcame countless challenges and obstacles, endured ridicule and skepticism from the outside world, and rose from the ashes of launch failures. Ultimately, their perseverance led to the successful launch of the rocket model, marking a crucial step in China’s transformation from a major spacefaring nation to a true aerospace power.