Background
Qian Xuesen was born in Shanghai. In 1934 he went to pursue his studies at the Massachusetts lnstitute of Technology and the California Institute of Technology. After Qian Xuesen had earned his doctorate in AD 1938, he took up a teaching position at the school and began his research into rocket science. Qian Xuesen planned to return to his home country to serve. The United States was very concerned about this decision. They believed that Chinese science and technology would advance at an unprecedented speed if Qian Xuescn were to be allowed to go back to China with his knowledge and skills. A navy leader tried to keep Qian Xuesen in America. He commented once that he would "rather kill Qian Xuesen than let him leave the United States". Qian Xuesen was “informed" that he could not leave the United States, even after his luggage had been loaded onto the ship.