Qian Sanqiang was born on October 16, 1913, in Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province. He is recognized as a principal founder of China's atomic energy program and has been honored with the titles "Father of Chinese Atomic Energy Science" and "Father of China's Two Bombs and One Satellite."
Qian Sanqiang's father, Qian Xuantong, was a renowned modern Chinese linguist and philologist. During his youth, Qian lived with his father in Beijing and attended Kunde Middle School, which was headed by Cai Yuanpei, one of China’s foremost modern educators. Qian developed a solid foundation in cultural knowledge and acquired broad scientific literacy. In his youth, he studied abroad and earned his French National Doctorate in 1940. He continued his advanced studies without pause, working as an assistant to Frédéric Joliot-Curie and Irène Joliot-Curie. Soon after, he married He Zehui, a talented and like-minded scientist in the same field. Together, they studied under the guidance of Frédéric Joliot-Curie. The couple collaborated closely and achieved breakthrough results in their research on uranium nuclear triple fission. Their mentor proudly introduced their work to the international scientific community. Numerous academic journals around the world reported this exciting discovery, praising them as "China's Curie couple who discovered a new method of nuclear fission." That same year, the French Academy of Sciences awarded Qian and He the Physics Prize.
In the summer of 1948, the couple returned full of ambition to their homeland, determined to contribute their lives to national development. In 1949, shortly after Beijing's peaceful liberation, despite extremely difficult conditions, the government allocated $50,000 for Qian Sanqiang to use during his attendance at the World Peace Conference in France to purchase instruments and related materials concerning atomic energy, preparing for future development and utilization. Qian was deeply moved, tears welling up in his eyes, profoundly sensing that he finally had a place to apply his talents and that the springtime of China's scientific and technological endeavors was about to arrive.
From the founding of New China, Qian Sanqiang devoted himself entirely to pioneering the nation's atomic energy industry. He served as deputy director and later director of the Institute of Modern Physics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. He planned and designed detailed development strategies for China's nuclear capabilities. He personally participated in the construction of the nuclear reactor project assisted by the former Soviet Union, proposing many rationalized suggestions suited to China's actual conditions. He actively recruited a large number of capable nuclear scientists, including his wife He Zehui and outstanding talents such as Deng Jiaxian, placing them in key roles throughout all stages of nuclear weapons development, enabling them to lead the research initiatives and maintain control over scientific progress.
In 1960, China decided to develop its own atomic bomb through self-reliance. By then, Qian Sanqiang had also taken on the role of Vice Minister of the Second Ministry of Machine Industry. He was appointed as the chief technical director and chief designer of China's atomic bomb research and development program. He meticulously designed every aspect, strictly controlled quality, and never overlooked even the smallest detail or potential flaw. Just as the second-generation Curies had nurtured him and He Zehui, Qian poured his heart and soul into cultivating a new generation of scientific leaders. His visionary and strategic approach played a crucial role in the development process of the "Two Bombs, One Satellite," ensuring high-quality outcomes and accelerating the pace of development. This laid a solid foundation and cultivated essential talent for China to join the ranks of global nuclear powers.
In his later years, Qian suffered from poor health and declining energy, yet he still held positions as Vice Chair of the China Association for Science and Technology, President of the Chinese Physical Society, and Honorary President of the Chinese Nuclear Society.
Even while confined to his sickbed, he remained deeply concerned about the advancement of China's nuclear programs. He repeatedly emphasized the need to quickly and effectively apply nuclear technology to civilian purposes, ensure the safety and reliability of nuclear applications, and safeguard people's lives and property.
On June 28, 1992, Qian Sanqiang passed away due to illness at the age of 79. On the eve of that year's National Day, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the State Council, and the Central Military Commission posthumously awarded Qian Sanqiang the "Meritorious Medal of Two Bombs, One Satellite," made of 515 grams of pure gold, in recognition of this scientific giant's immense contributions.