In 1956, Yang returned to China and worked as a research scientist at the Institute of Automation under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.[1] In 1968, he was transferred to the China Academy of Space Technology to participate in the development of China's first satellites.[2][4] His most important contribution was developing three-axis stabilization for the attitude control systems of recoverable satellites,[2][4] and he also developed control systems for rockets and nuclear weapons testing.[2][4] He was elected a delegate to the Third, Fourth, and Fifth National People's Congresses.[3]