BEIJING, Dec. 18 (China Space News) — China's space scientist Tu Shou'e died of illness in Beijing on Saturday at the age of 95.

Tu was born in December 1917 in the city of Huzhou in southeast China's Zhejiang province. He began to work at the Fifth Academy of the Ministry of National Defense (later the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation) in 1957, and led research on the DF-2, DF-3 missiles and LM-2 and LM-2E launch vehicles.

As a major figure in China’s missile and space programs, Tu received a special medal from the government for "two bombs and one satellite," and enjoyed special government allowances.

He was a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the International Academy of Astronautics. Tu was also a senior technical consultant for both China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation and China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation .