Beijing, China — In a groundbreaking achievement, Bao Shuo, born in the 1990s, has become the first female chief dispatcher at the Beijing Aerospace Control Center (BACC) since its establishment. Her journey reflects the evolving role of women in China’s burgeoning aerospace industry.
The BACC serves as the command hub for China’s manned spaceflight and deep space exploration missions. Often referred to as the “only link between space and Earth,” the center is responsible for command and dispatch, analysis and calculation, flight control, data processing, and information exchange.
Contrary to the misconception that dispatchers merely read commands from screens, Bao emphasizes the complexity of the role. “The work is complicated because we have to handle a large amount of information from multiple sessions,” she explained. “Many voices may report to you at the same time. At this point, you have to distinguish everyone’s message, identify the most urgent one, and decide which to deal with first.”
Bao’s ascent began in 2017 when she joined the BACC after completing graduate school. Initially working at the down-up control post, her role involved issuing commands to spacecraft. In March 2019, she advanced to the dispatch position, taking on responsibilities that included task organization, command, plan formulation, and coordination.
The challenges of her new position tested her professional abilities and her natural introversion. “I have always been introverted and not good at communication,” Bao admitted. “As a dispatcher, I often need to coordinate various positions. At the beginning, I was even afraid to make a phone call to others.” Despite these hurdles, Bao remained positive and proactive, determined to excel in her role.
In 2020, Bao faced her biggest challenge yet: serving as the chief dispatcher for China’s first Mars exploration mission, Tianwen-1. The mission’s complexity was amplified by the significant communication delay between Mars and Earth. “For lunar missions, the time delay is probably about seconds. However, as the Mars probe went farther, it gradually increased to a two-way delay of more than 40 minutes,” she explained. “We couldn’t afford to make any mistake, so we made fault predictions.”
Despite the pressure, Bao successfully guided the mission, demonstrating her ability to make accurate judgments and timely responses. Her success on the Tianwen-1 mission marked a significant milestone in her career and set a precedent for future female leaders in the aerospace field.
Reflecting on the conclusion of each dispatch, Bao shared, “I would speak to all the dispatch groups: ‘Attention, this is Beijing, this control is over normally, all numbers can exit.'” She added, “That was the happiest and most relaxing moment for me.”
Bao Shuo’s story is an inspiring example of perseverance and dedication. Her achievements not only highlight her personal growth but also symbolize the expanding opportunities for women in science and technology sectors across Asia.
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Meet 1st female chief dispatcher of Beijing Aerospace Control Center
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