BEIJING - China's People's Publishing House on Tuesday released the official biography of Qian Xuesen, the late scientist widely regarded as the country's "father of space technology."

With 500,000 Chinese characters and more than 200 pictures, the book documents Qian's remarkable life intertwined with the country's eventful development over the past 100 years, complete with lively language and historical records.

This is the first time most of the pictures have been made available to the public, according to the publisher.

Qian is credited with playing a key role in China's missile and aviation programs after the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949.

In 1956, based on Qian's position paper on the country's defense and aviation industry, the government set up an aviation industry committee, which later became the leading organization for China's missile and aviation programs.

Qian died in Beijing on October 31, 2009, at the age of 98.

The book was written and compiled by the General Armament Department of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.