China's rocket heroes' story gets an English edition

"They made all of their breakthroughs from scratch. It was led by a deep love for their country. Dormant for almost a century, suddenly China had clear path to follow and a ray of hope to light the way. These talented people felt obliged to seize the opportunity, follow that path and help their country rise again," Song says.

Song also notes that the project was a hugely complicated one, not simply an accumulation of investment or personnel, but more about technology and management.

"Everyone involved－the decision maker, the organizer and the participants－were just fantastic. They completed projects that, in the 1960s, only the most industrially advanced countries had achieved."

Song can recite the titles published for the "bombs and satellite" heroes, including a catalogue of key figures, a biography of Deng Jiaxian written by his wife, an album of Qian Xuesen as well as his selected articles, works and biography.

A TV series entitled Those Years When We Were Young, aired by Beijing Satellite Television this year, was inspired by the heroes' stories. Additionally, an adaptation of The Second Handshake, the 1970s bestselling novel by Zhang Yang, aired in 2013. While the main plotline is fictional, it is heavily based on the facts and events surrounding the development of China's nuclear program.

The touching and inspiring story of the scientific heroes can also be found in children's literature.

Published last year by Daylight Publishing House, The Undersea Tunnel by Yang Zhijun follows a boy named Yuanyuan and his journey of self-growth as he gradually understands how much his parents, older sisters and other family members have devoted to the progress of the A-bomb and H-bomb.

In March, President Xi Jinping stressed that the Chinese national spirit is developed from years of hard work, noting that, throughout history, the four key elements are creativity, an ability to toil, being united, and being able to realize dreams.