Chinese space technology expert Wu Meirong was awarded Von Karman Award, the world highest award in astronautical science, at the World Summit in Washington on Jan. 10, 2014.

The award was given to Wu in recognition of her 50 years’ pursuit in space science and technology, as well as outstanding contributions to the international space cooperation. She is the first female space technology expert in the world who won the award.

Von Karman Award was founded in 1982. It is the highest award of the international astronautical scientific community, known as the Nobel Prize of Aerospace Science, given annually to a person in recognition of outstanding achievements in the field of science and space technology.

Wu Meirong was born in Changzhou, Jiangsu in 1936. She graduated from Moscow Power Engineering Institute and was the former director of China Resources Satellite Application Center.