The 43-year-old scientist was born in Sichuan Province to a mathematics teacher mother and an agricultural technician father, according to the South China Morning Post.

Fascinated by mathematics and physics from an early age, she started primary school at four and entered university at 16 to study communications engineering, consistently finishing at the top of her class.

Chinese scientist Xu Ying, a key figure behind the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System. Photo from Baidu

At 20, Xu enrolled in a combined master’s and doctoral program at the Beijing Institute of Technology before joining the team developing the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System three years later.

The navigation system has since grown to rival the U.S. GPS and Russia's GLONASS. It is used in transportation, weather forecasting, disaster relief and public safety, and has cooperation agreements with 137 countries worldwide. The industry built around BeiDou generated 1.33 trillion yuan (US$185 billion) last year, according to local reports.

Nevertheless, Xu faced challenges early in her career on the project. Inaccurate calculations and unfamiliar research methods slowed her progress so she spent most days in the laboratory repeatedly conducting tests. Her efforts eventually paid off and established her as a key member of the BeiDou team.

During the 2013 Ya'an earthquake in Sichuan, BeiDou played a key role in rescue efforts after conventional communication systems failed, providing precise positioning data to teams operating across the disaster zone. Xu later described the system as a "beacon of life" for its role in helping save lives during emergencies.

But the navigation system faced years of public skepticism, with some critics dismissing it as an imitation of GPS and questioning the massive investment behind it. Xu sought to sway public opinion through talks and media appearances and by explaining the technology in simple terms.

In 2016, Xu Ying gained widespread online attention after delivering a speech at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, according to Xinhua News Agency. In the presentation, which drew more than 20 million views on social media, she used humorous analogies to explain how the BeiDou navigation system could be used to guide agricultural drones and help researchers track endangered species.

Some internet users began referring to her as the "BeiDou Goddess" for her intelligence, confidence and appearance. Xu, however, has repeatedly rejected the nickname, saying it is better suited to social media influencers.

"Do not underestimate a girl at the foot of the mountain, and do not deify her once she reaches the summit," she said, adding that she prefers to be known as a "young scientific researcher."

Xu earned her PhD at 26 and became the youngest doctoral supervisor at the Chinese Academy of Sciences at 32. Projects she led secured more than 50 million yuan in funding, and she has filed 38 invention patents.

After completing her doctorate, Xu said she faced gender discrimination while looking for work. One male interviewer told her that scientific research was not suitable for women. Xu replied: "There is no gender that is unsuitable for scientific research, only individuals who are unsuitable for it."

In 2023, Xu received several national honors, including the Chinese Academy of Sciences Young Scientist Award. She now serves as deputy chief engineer of the academy's Navigation Systems Department.

Her story has resonated widely on Chinese social media. One online observer remarked: "‘Goddess’ is never the most accurate term for describing a remarkable woman. Her success is rooted in ability, achievement, talent and character, not appearance."