List of Chinese astronauts

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Chinese taikonauts on a 2010 Somalia stamp Taikonauts 2010 Somalia stamps.jpg
Chinese taikonauts on a 2010 Somalia stamp

This is a list of Chinese astronauts, sometimes called taikonauts. The list includes people trained by the China National Space Administration (CNSA) to command, pilot, or serve as a crew member of a spacecraft.

Contents

As the Chinese space program developed during the sixties, various proposals for crewed spacecraft were made. The first crewed spacecraft proposed by the People's Republic of China during the late 1960s and early 1970s was the Shuguang One which was expected to bring the first Chinese astronaut in 1973 into space. [1] For this programme 19 astronauts were selected in 1971. [1] However, shortly after these plans were made, several leading scientists attached to the project were denounced, bringing progress to a standstill. [1] Instead, NASA astronaut Taylor Wang, a naturalized U.S. citizen born in China, became the first ethnically Chinese person in space in 1985.

The People's Liberation Army Astronaut Corps was established in 1998 for the selection of Shenzhou program astronauts. [2] In 2003, Yang Liwei was launched aboard Shenzhou 5, becoming the first person sent into space by the Chinese space program. [3] This achievement made China the third country to independently send humans into space. During the Shenzhou 7 mission in 2008, Zhai Zhigang became the first Chinese citizen to carry out a spacewalk. [4] In 2012, Liu Yang became the first Chinese woman to be launched into space aboard Shenzhou 9 and also the first aboard a space station Tiangong-1. [5] In 2021, Wang Yaping became the first Chinese woman to walk in space during the Shenzhou 13 mission. [6]

As of October 2023, twenty Chinese nationals have traveled in space.

Astronauts

Flown

NameName in ChinesePhotographMission(s) (dates)Notes
Yang Liwei 杨利伟 Yang Liwei.jpg Shenzhou 5 (October 15, 2003)First Chinese national in space. First solo person in space who was not flown on a Soviet/Russian or American spacecraft.
Fei Junlong 费俊龙 Dyor Fei Junlong.jpg Shenzhou 6 (October 12–16, 2005)
Shenzhou 15 (November 29, 2022–June 3, 2023)
Commander of the first two-person Chinese crew in space.
Nie Haisheng 聂海胜 Nie Haisheng 2010 Somalia stamp.jpg Shenzhou 6 (October 12–16, 2005)
Shenzhou 10 (June 11–26, 2013)
Shenzhou 12 (June 17–September 17, 2021)
Member of the first two-person Chinese crew in space.
Jing Haipeng 景海鹏 Jing Haipeng.JPG Shenzhou 7 (September 25–28, 2008)
Shenzhou 9 (June 16–29, 2012)
Shenzhou 11 (October 17–November 18, 2016)
Shenzhou 16 (May 30, 2023–October 31, 2023)
Member of the first three-person Chinese crew in space. First repeat Chinese national in space. Commander of the first Chinese crew to achieve crewed spacecraft docking.
Liu Boming 刘伯明 Liu Boming.JPG Shenzhou 7 (September 25–28, 2008)
Shenzhou 12 (June 17–September 17, 2021)
Member of the first three-person Chinese crew in space.
Zhai Zhigang 翟志刚 Zhai Zhigang.JPG Shenzhou 7 (September 25–28, 2008)
Shenzhou 13 (October 15, 2021–April 16, 2022)
First Chinese national to walk in space. Commander of the first Chinese three-person crew in space.
Liu Wang 刘旺 LIU Wang CUHK 2012.JPG Shenzhou 9 (June 16–29, 2012)Member of the first Chinese crew to achieve crewed spacecraft docking.
Liu Yang 刘洋 LIU Yang CUHK 2012.JPG Shenzhou 9 (June 16–29, 2012)
Shenzhou 14 (June 5–December 4, 2022)
First Chinese woman in space. Member of first Chinese crew to achieve crewed spacecraft docking.
Zhang Xiaoguang 张晓光 Shenzhou 10 (June 11–26, 2013)Conducted crewed spacecraft rendezvous and docking.
Wang Yaping 王亚平 Wang Yaping at Shenzhou-13 launch.jpg Shenzhou 10 (June 11–26, 2013)
Shenzhou 13 (October 15, 2021–April 16, 2022)
Second Chinese female taikonaut and the first Chinese woman to travel twice in space. First Chinese woman to walk in space.
Chen Dong 陈冬 Hang Tian Yuan Chen Dong Chen Dong.jpg Shenzhou 11 (October 17–November 18, 2016)
Shenzhou 14 (June 5–December 4, 2022)
Conducted multiple space experiments.
Tang Hongbo 汤洪波 Tang Hongbo.png Shenzhou 12 (June 17–September 17, 2021)
Shenzhou 17 (October 26, 2023-present)
Ye Guangfu 叶光富 Ye Guangfu in 2021.jpg Shenzhou 13 (October 15, 2021–April 16, 2022)
Cai Xuzhe 蔡旭哲 Hang Tian Yuan Cai Xu Zhe Cai Xuzhe.jpg Shenzhou 14 (June 5–December 4, 2022)
Deng Qingming 邓清明 Deng Qingming (cropped).jpg Shenzhou 15 (November 29, 2022–June 3, 2023)
Zhang Lu 张陆 Zhang Lu (cropped).jpg Shenzhou 15 (November 29, 2022–June 3, 2023)
Zhu Yangzhu 朱杨柱 Zhu Yangzhu Shenzhou 16 Zhu Yang Zhu 20230530 01.jpg Shenzhou 16 (May 30, 2023–October 31, 2023)
Gui Haichao 桂海潮 Gui Haichao Shenzhou 16 Gui Hai Chao 20230530 02.jpg Shenzhou 16 (May 30, 2023–October 31, 2023)First payload specialist, first civilian taikonaut in space
Tang Shengjie 唐胜杰 Shen Zhou Shi Qi Hao Shenzhou 17 Tang Sheng Jie Tang Shengjie 20231026.jpg Shenzhou 17 (October 26, 2023–present)
Jiang Xinlin 江新林 Shen Zhou Shi Qi Hao Shenzhou 17 Jiang Xin Lin Jiang Xinlin 20231026.jpg Shenzhou 17 (October 26, 2023–present)

By selection group

Shuguang Group (May 1970)
Group 1
October 1996
January 1998
Group 2 (March 2010) [8] [9]
Group 3 (October 2020) [10]

China announced that 18 people, 17 men and 1 woman, had been selected as new astronauts. The positions were broken down as 7 spacecraft pilots ("aviators of the People's Liberation Army Air Force"), 7 flight engineers ("former researchers or technicians in aeronautics, astronautics and other related fields"), and 4 mission payload specialists ("those involved in space science and through applications for China's manned space program").

As of October 2023, only names of those selected to fly to space have been revealed.

Group 4 (October 2022) [11]

China announced that 12 to 14 people are to be selected as new astronauts. The positions were broken down as 7-8 spacecraft pilots ("aviators of the People's Liberation Army Air Force") and 5-6 spaceflight engineers ("former researchers or technicians in aeronautics, astronautics and other related fields"). Up to two of the latter group will become payload specialists ("those involved in space science and through applications for China's manned space program"). Candidacy was extended to include Hong Kong and Macau.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yang Liwei</span> Chinese major general and taikonaut

Yang Liwei is a Chinese major general, former military pilot, and former taikonaut at the People's Liberation Army.

As of 2024, the People's Republic of China has sent two women to space: Liu Yang and Wang Yaping, both taikonauts in the People's Liberation Army Astronaut Corps (PLAAC). Liu Yang, China's first female taikonaut, first flew in 2012 aboard Shenzhou 9, and since then three additional missions have included female crew members: Shenzhou 10, 13, and 14. According to the China National Space Administration, many women also hold leadership positions in the Chinese space program, and actively contribute to the Chinese space effort.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liu Boming (taikonaut)</span> Chinese major general and taikonaut (born 1966)

Liu Boming is a major general in the Chinese People's Liberation Army Strategic Support Force (PLASSF). A fighter pilot in the PLA Air Force (PLAAF), he was selected into the PLA Astronaut Corps (PLAAC) in 1998. A Shenzhou 7 veteran, he also worked on the Tiangong space station during the Shenzhou 12 mission from June to September 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shenzhou 7</span> 2008 Chinese crewed spaceflight

Shenzhou 7 was the third human spaceflight mission of the Chinese space program. The mission, which included the first Chinese extra-vehicular activity (EVA) carried out by crew members Zhai Zhigang and Liu Boming, marked the commencement of the second phase of the Chinese government's Project 921.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zhai Zhigang</span> Chinese military officer and taikonaut

Zhai Zhigang is a Chinese major general of the People's Liberation Army Strategic Support Force (PLASSF) in active service as a People's Liberation Army Astronaut Corps (PLAAC) taikonaut. During the Shenzhou 7 mission in 2008, he became the first Chinese citizen to carry out a spacewalk. He was a People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) fighter pilot.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nie Haisheng</span> Chinese taikonaut and fighter pilot

Nie Haisheng is a major general of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Strategic Support Force (PLASSF) in active service as an taikonaut and the third commander of the PLA Astronaut Corps (PLAAC). He was a PLA Air Force fighter pilot and director of navigation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jing Haipeng</span> Chinese taikonaut (born 1966)

Jing Haipeng is a major general of the People's Liberation Army Ground Force (PLAGF) in active service as a vice-commander of the 82nd Group Army. A fighter pilot in the PLA Air Force (PLAAF), he was selected to be a PLA Astronaut Corps (PLAAC) astronaut in 1998. He was the first Chinese astronaut to have flown on more than one mission and remains the only one to have flown on four. He also holds the Chinese record for longest time spent in space.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tiangong program</span> Space station program of the Peoples Republic of China

The Tiangong program is China's space program to create a modular space station, comparable to Mir. This program is independent and unconnected to any other international space-active countries. The program is part of the China Manned Space Program that began in 1992. The core module of the Tiangong space station, the Tianhe was finally launched on 29 April 2021 marking the start of the Tiangong Space program deployment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tiangong space station</span> Chinese space station in low Earth orbit

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shenzhou 9</span> 2012 Chinese crewed spaceflight to Tiangong-1

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shenzhou 10</span> 2013 Chinese crewed spaceflight to Tiangong-1

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tiangong-1</span> Chinese prototype space station in orbit from 2011 to 2018

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wang Yaping</span> Chinese taikonaut

Wang Yaping is a Chinese military transport pilot and taikonaut. Wang was the second female taikonaut selected to the People's Liberation Army Astronaut Corps, the second Chinese woman in space, and the first Chinese woman to perform a spacewalk.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liu Yang (taikonaut)</span> Chinese taikonaut (born 1978)

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shenzhou 13</span> 2021 Chinese crewed spaceflight to the Tiangong Space Station

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shenzhou 12</span> 2021 Chinese crewed spaceflight to the Tiangong Space Station

Shenzhou 12 was a Chinese spaceflight to the Tiangong space station, launched on 17 June 2021. It carried three People's Liberation Army Astronaut Corps (PLAAC) taikonauts on board a Shenzhou spacecraft. The mission was the seventh crewed Chinese spaceflight and the twelfth flight overall of the Shenzhou program. It was the first flight to Tiangong, and the first Chinese crewed spaceflight since Shenzhou 11 in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tang Hongbo</span> Chinese taikonaut (born 1975)

Senior Colonel Tang Hongbo is a Chinese fighter pilot and People's Liberation Army Astronaut Corps (PLAAC) taikonaut. He flew on his first spaceflight to the Tiangong space station as a part of the Shenzhou 12 mission, the first to visit the station. He is the commander of the Shenzhou 17 mission, making him the first taikonaut to visit Tiangong twice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shenzhou 14</span> 2022 Chinese crewed spaceflight to the Tiangong Space Station

Shenzhou 14 was a Chinese spaceflight to the Tiangong space station, launched on 5 June 2022. It carried three People's Liberation Army Astronaut Corps (PLAAC) taikonauts on board a Shenzhou spacecraft. The mission was the ninth crewed Chinese spaceflight and the fourteenth flight overall of the Shenzhou program.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shenzhou 15</span> 2022 Chinese crewed spaceflight to the Tiangong Space Station

Shenzhou 15 was a Chinese spaceflight to the Tiangong space station, launched on 29 November 2022. It carried three People's Liberation Army Astronaut Corps (PLAAC) taikonauts on board a Shenzhou spacecraft. The mission was the tenth crewed Chinese spaceflight and the fifteenth flight overall of the Shenzhou program.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Shuguang 1". Archived from the original on 2007-07-14. Retrieved 2011-02-13.
  2. Xi, Qixin; Fan, Juwei; Liu, Cheng (2003-10-17). Xu, Dongmei (ed.). "中国航天员诞生记" [Birth of Chinese Astronauts]. Xinhua.net. Xinhua. Retrieved 2018-11-11.
  3. "Shenzhou 5". Archived from the original on 2011-06-28. Retrieved 2011-02-13.
  4. "Shenzhou 7". Archived from the original on September 28, 2008. Retrieved 2011-02-13.
  5. Jonathan Amos (18 June 2012). "Shenzhou-9 docks with Tiangong-1". BBC News.
  6. "Shenzhou-13 Crew Conducts First Extravehicular Activities, Wang Yaping Becomes First Female Chinese Astronaut to Spacewalk". Pandaily . 2021-11-08. Retrieved 2021-11-11.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Xue, Yanwen; Shan, Ruchao; Li, Xiaofan (2018-01-24). Yang, Ru (ed.). "中国航天员:矢志飞天 初心不改" [Chinese Astronauts: Dedicated to Space Flight, Remain True to Original Intention]. Xinhua News Agency. Archived from the original on November 12, 2018. Retrieved 2018-11-11.
  8. China 2, spacefacts.de
  9. Space.com, "Names of China's Secret Astronauts Revealed by Autographed Envelope", Robert Z. Pearlman, 7 December 2011
  10. Lei, Zhao. "18 picked for nation's 3rd generation of astronauts". China Daily. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  11. "China begins recruitment for 4th batch of astronauts". Space.com. 4 October 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2023.