I put "polarized stereo glasses" on the satellite | remote sensing | stereo glasses
"In life, we can watch 3D movies by wearing polarized glasses in cinemas. Then, my job is to wear 'polarized stereoscopic glasses' to satellites, so that we can see the atmosphere, land and sea more clearly, and see the key elements and impact factors of global climate change." Li Zhengqiang from the Institute of Space and Space Information Innovation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences introduced his research content.
"The reason why I am able to engage in this exciting job is actually due to several major choices I have made in my life." Li Zhengqiang told us that I first met Polarization Satellite more than 20 years ago when his mentor made a forward-looking judgment: wearing "Polarization Stereoscopic Glasses" on satellites will play an important role in addressing climate change in the future.
At that time, Li Zhengqiang's major was related to this, and his mentor encouraged him to pursue further studies abroad. However, some people also suggest that he should not study remote sensing applications, but instead focus on agricultural information that is easier to produce results. His first major decision in his research career came: to study agricultural information? Or remote sensing applications?
"Although I didn't have a 'phone call' to remote sensing applications at that time, I thought that learning it could further understand the polarization satellites needed to cope with climate change. In the end, I chose to study remote sensing applications." Li Zhengqiang said that now it seems that this learning experience in remote sensing applications has laid a solid foundation for him to engage in polarization satellite remote sensing research in the future.
In this way, Li Zhengqiang systematically studied remote sensing applications and continuously studied polarized satellites, making significant progress. Until the summer of 2009, the second important choice arrived: to stay and work abroad? Or do you want to return to China and start a new research from scratch?
Li Zhengqiang told us that at that time, China did not have a foundation in polarization satellite remote sensing research. What kind of satellite should be designed? What application goals are being achieved? What kind of experiments to conduct and so on are yet to be answered. By chance, the director of the Institute of Remote Sensing Applications at the Chinese Academy of Sciences came to the city where Li Zhengqiang was located for a meeting. In a foreign land, Li Zhengqiang learned about the urgent need and determination of the country to develop polarization satellites through their overnight conversation, which coincided with his long-term ideas.
Therefore, at the age of 32, Li Zhengqiang once again made a significant choice and immediately decided to return to China to work. At that time, he worked in the Environmental Remote Sensing Application Technology Research Office of the Institute of Remote Sensing, Chinese Academy of Sciences, assisting the institute in carrying out polarization satellite project approval work.
In 2017, at the International Symposium on the Progress of Polarization Observations, more than 50 authoritative experts in the field of polarization from abroad visited the satellite laboratory where Li Zhengqiang worked. "Because the following year, our Gaofen-5 polarization satellite is about to be launched, and the related technologies are basically mature." After listening to the introduction of GF-5, the chief scientist of the US Honor polarization satellite sighed, "What foreigners have achieved on polarization satellites, Chinese people have also achieved it!"!
Accumulation leads to thin hair. On May 9, 2018, China's GF-5 satellite successfully launched China's first generation polarization payload, achieving a breakthrough in monitoring and inversion of aerosol and cloud microscopic parameters; On September 7, 2021 and April 16, 2022, China's GF5-02 satellite and DQ-1 satellite were successfully launched at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center, respectively, equipped with new generation polarized fire sensors.
Nowadays, Li Zhengqiang still chooses to "fight" on the front line of scientific research.
In September 2020, China clearly proposed the goals of "peaking carbon emissions by 2030" and "carbon neutrality" by 2060. "In order to accurately evaluate the greenhouse gas emissions reduction situation of countries around the world, enhance the initiative of China's carbon emission assessment, and develop global coverage and rapid monitoring carbon satellites has quickly become a major national demand." Li Zhengqiang said that according to calculations, the accuracy required for carbon inventory is 1ppm, which is equivalent to requiring ultra-high accuracy in measuring changes in the atmosphere by one millionth. Polarization satellite remote sensing is the key to achieving this accuracy.
"After going through these experiences, my biggest realization is that only by taking the needs of the country as the criterion and facing major moments in life can I make the right choices," said Li Zhengqiang.
Now, China has successively launched 7 polarized satellites into space orbit, achieving the goal of putting "polarized stereoscopic glasses" on satellites. It provides a pair of smart eyes for a more three-dimensional view and exploration of the ecological environment, promoting social and economic development.
The China Aerosol Technology Innovation Award, the Chinese Society of Environmental Sciences Young Scientist Award, and the Li Xiaowen Remote Sensing Science Youth Award... Li Zhengqiang has also gained a lot on this journey. However, what he is most proud of is not these awards, but the choice he made right. "For me personally, I am honored to be able to integrate into the development of the country's aerospace industry through every choice I make, conduct my own research in the field of space information remote sensing, and contribute to meeting the country's major needs."
