[2] At the institute, he developed the world's first measuring device for ultrashort pulse, used to ascertain the level of radiation in nuclear explosions.
[2] In the early 1970s, Chen began researching and developing telemetry, tracking and command (TT&C) systems that control satellites tens of thousands of kilometers away from earth.
The TT&C system he proposed was crucial in the successful launch of China's first geosynchronous communications satellite in April 1984, and he was conferred the Special Prize of the State Science and Technology Progress Award the next year.
[2] Based on Chen's pioneering work, a network of TT&C systems has since been deployed to control China's satellites and missiles.
[2] In March 1986, Chen and three other prominent scientists—Wang Daheng, Wang Ganchang, and Yang Jiachi—wrote a letter to Deng Xiaoping advocating the development of strategic technologies.