List of Chinese astronauts

Nie Haisheng exits the re-entry capsule of Shenzhou 6 at the main landing field in Central Inner Mongolia.

This is a list of Chinese astronauts, people trained by the China National Space Administration (CNSA) to command, pilot, or serve as a crew member of a spacecraft. As the Chinese space program developed during the sixties, various proposals for manned spacecraft were made.

The first manned spacecraft proposed by the People's Republic of China during the late 1960s and early 70s 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 during the Cultural Revolution, bringing progress to a standstill.^[1] Instead, NASA astronaut Taylor Wang became the first Chinese person in space in 1985.

For China’s current Shenzhou program several astronaut were selected. This resulted in Yang Liwei being launched aboard Shenzhou 5 and becoming the first man sent into space by the Chinese space program.^[2] 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.^[3] As of 2010, six Chinese nationals have traveled in space:

Astronauts

Name	Photograph	Mission(s)	Launch date	Landing	Notes
Yang Liwei		Shenzhou 5	2003, October 15	2003, October 15	First Chinese national in space
Fei Junlong		Shenzhou 6	2005, October 12	2005, October 16
Nie Haisheng		Shenzhou 6	2005, October 12	2005, October 16
Jing Haipeng		Shenzhou 7	2008, 25 September	2008, 28 September
Liu Boming		Shenzhou 7	2008, 25 September	2008, 28 September
Zhai Zhigang		Shenzhou 7	2008, 25 September	2008, 28 September	First Chinese national to walk in space

Other Chinese astronauts were selected for training :

May 1970 - Shuguang Group :

Chai Hongliang, Dong Xiaohai, Du Jincheng, Fang Guojun, Hu Zhanzi, Li Shichang, Liu Chongfu, Liu Zhongyi, Lu Xiangxiao, Ma Zizhong, Meng Senlin, Shao Zhijian, Wang Fuhe, Wang Fuquan, Wang Quanbo, Wang Rongsen, Wang Zhiyue, Yu Guilin, Zhang Ruxiang

October 1996 (part of the Shenzhou program)

Li Qinglong, Wu Jie

January 1998 - (part of the Shenzhou program)

Chen Quan (commander; mission: Shenzhou 7 - backup), Deng Qingming, Fei Junlong (mission: Shenzhou 6 and Shenzhou 7 - backup), Jing Haipeng (mission: Shenzhou 7), Liu Boming (mission: Shenzhou 7), Liu Wang, Nie Haisheng (mission: Shenzhou 6 and Shenzhou 7 - backup), Pan Zhanchun, Yang Liwei (mission: Shenzhou 5), Zhai Zhigang (commander; mission: Shenzhou 7), Zhang Xiaoguan, Zhao Chuandong

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} "Shuguang 1". http://www.astronautix.com/craft/shuuang1.htm. Retrieved 2011-02-13. 
2. ^ "Shenzhou 5". http://www.astronautix.com/flights/shezhou5.htm. Retrieved 2011-02-13. 
3. ^ "Shenzhou 7". http://www.astronautix.com/flights/shezhou7.htm. Retrieved 2011-02-13. 

See also

• Taylor Wang
• List of astronauts
• List of astronauts by selection
  • Shuguang Group 1970 list
  • China Group 1996 list
  • Chinese Group 1 list