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Taikonauts
Last updated: October 11, 2005 |
1971 Shuguang Group
China approved the "Project 714" on July 14,
1970 to develop the Shuguang manned spacecraft, to be launched in 1973. Shuguang
taikonaut group selection bagan in late 1970. Initial screening resulted 88 candidates
from PLA pilots. During January to May, 1971, throughout strict medical
examinations and physical testing, finally 20
taikonaut candidates were selected. It is said that one candidate was absent for
an unknown reason when the group was established. As a result, the group had
only 19 members. In fact, the group was never formally trained after its
establishment because the whole program was cancelled in late 1971. Please note
that the following list has only 18 taikonauts, as name and particulars of one candidate
are still unknown.
- Chai Hongliang, born in Shanghai and
joined PLA in 1958. He was an PLAAF pilot when selected.
- Du Jincheng, born in 1949 in Henan Province and joined PLA in1965.
He was an PLAAF squadron
commander when selected.
- Dong Xiaohai, born in Wuhan, Hubei Province and joined PLA in1950.
He was an PLAAF squadron
commander when selected.
- Fang Guojun, born in 1934 in Henan Province.
He was an PLAAF regiment commander when selected.
- Hu Zhanzi, born in Hebei Province and
joined PLA in1958. He was an PLAAF pilot when selected.
- Li Shichang, born in 1935 in Jilin Province and joined PLA in1956.
He was an PLAAF regiment
deputy-party-commissar when selected.
- Liu Chongfu, born in Changchun,
Jilin Province in 1941 and joined PLA in1960. He was an PLAAF
squadron commander when selected.
- Liu Zhongyi, born in north east
provinces and joined PLA in1958. He was an PLAAF pilot when selected.
- Lu Xiangxiao, born in 1936 in Changde, Hunan
Province. He was an PLAAF squadron commander when selected.
- Ma Zizhong He was an
PLAAF regiment deputy-party-commissar when selected.
- Meng Senlin, born in 1947 and joined
PLA in1965. He was an PLAAF squadron commander when selected.
- Shao Zhijian, born 1940 in Qingdao,
Shandong Province and joined PLA in1958. He was an PLAAF
regiment commander when selected.
- Wang Fuhe He was an PLAAF
pilot when selected.
- Wang Fuquan, born in 1939 in Tianjin
and joined PLA in1958. He was an PLAAF deputy regiment
commander when selected.
- Wang Quanbo, born Shouguang, Shandong Province and joined PLA in1958.
He was an PLAAF squadron
commander when selected.
- Wang Rongsen, born in 1934 in Shangdong
Province. He was an PLAAF deputy division commander when
selected.
- Wang Zhiyue, born in 1941 in Laizhou,
Shandong Province and joined PLA in1958. He was an PLAAF pilot when
selected.
- Zhang Ruxiang, born in 1941 in Xianxian,
Henan Province and joined PLA in1958. He was an PLAAF
regiment commander when selected.
The Late 70s Group
It has revealed that China undertook a new round of
taikonaut training in late 1970s. Early released photos showing orange color
spacesuit and shuttle-like cockpit all are related to this round of training. The training was
likely terminated around 1980. It is still unclear whether this training was for
particular missions, or purely for medical researches or equipment testing
(such as spacesuits). It is also unclear how may candidates were involved and whether
they were selected
through formal procedures.
The Mid 80s Sino-US Shuttle Group
China and United States of America had a joint
shuttle flight plan in mid 1980s, as a result of an invitation by President
Ronald Reagan. According to Chinese, the plan was cancelled
by the US side (presumably due to the Challenger accident). However, preparation
works for astronaut selection already began in 1986, which was immediately
terminated after US's notification on project's cancellation.
It seems the selection have not resulted any candidates.
1996 Shenzhou Trainer Group
China started the "Project 921" manned
space program in September 21, 1992. According to the agreement with Russian
government in 1993,
China sent two candidates to Russia's Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City in
October 1996. They returned to China after one year period of training.
The two candidates later became trainers in China's own training program. The
trainer-taikonaut selection began in November 1995 and completed in 1996. The
two later joined the 12-person formal taikonaut group in March 1998.
- Li Qinglong, born in August, 1962 in Dingyuan,
Anhui Province. He is 170cm
tall, weighs 67kg. He graduated from the PLAAF Missile
College in 1987 and later the PLAAF Flight College.
As an PLAAF pilot, he accumulated 1230 flight-hours. Li
was selected
as Shenzhou trainer taikonaut in 1996. He completed one year training in
Russia's Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in 1997.
- Wu Jie, born in October,
1963 in Zhengzhou, Henan Province. He is
163cm tall, weighs 63kg. He graduated from the
PLAAF Engineering College in 1987 and later the PLAAF Flight College.
As an PLAAF pilot, he accumulated 1100 flight-hours. Wu
was selected
as Shenzhou trainer taikonaut in 1996. He completed one year
training in Russia's Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in 1997.
1998 Shenzhou Group
To prepare the planned Shenzhou manned space flight,
taikonaut selection began in end of 1995. As before, candidates are chosen from
PLAAF pilots. Screening identified 1504 and then 886 candidates. In summer
1996, 60 candidates passed initial testing and
went to Beijing for final selection. Further testing resulted 20 persons in
April, 1997, and finally 12 candidates by end of 1997. In January 1998,
the 12-taikonaut group was established.
In March, 1998, two trainer taikonauts joined the group.
- Chen Quan, born in Suining, Sichuan Province. He was an PLAAF
regiment commander when selected.
- Deng Qingming, born in Jiangxi Province.
- Fei Junlong, born in 1965,
in Kunshan,
Jiangsu Province. Married and has a son. Fei joined PLA in
1982 and graduated from the PLAAF 7th Flight College in
1986. He was an PLAAF pilot when
selected.
- Jing Haipen, born in 1966 in Shanxi
Province
- Liu Boming, born in 1966 in Heilongjiang
Province
- Liu Wang, born in 1970 in Shanxi
Province.
- Nie Haisheng, born in September, 1964 in Zaoyang,
Hubei Province. He is 171cm tall, married and has a daughter.
He is a lieutenant colonel. Nie graduated from the PLAAF 7th Flight College in
1987. As an PLAAF pilot, he accumulated 1480 flight-hours. He was selected
as Shenzhou taikonaut in January 1998. Nie was one of the backup crew of the
historic Shenzhou 5 mission.
- Pan Zhanchun
- Yang Liwei, born on June 21, 1965 in Suizhong, Liaoning Province. He is 168cm tall,
weighs 65kg, married
and has a son. Yang joined PLA in June, 1983. He is a
lieutenant colonel. Yang graduated from the PLAAF
8th Flight College in 1987. As an PLAAF pilot and then squadron commander,
he accumulated 1350 flight-hours. He was selected as Shenzhou taikonaut in
January 1998. On October 15, 2003, Yang Liwei became the first Chinese citizen in
space after the historic 21 hours 23 minutes Shenzhou 5
flight.
- Zhai Zhigang, born on October 10, 1966 in
Longjiang, Heilongjiang Province. He is 172cm
tall, weighs 65.5kg, married and has a son. He
is a lieutenant colonel. Zhai joined PLA in June, 1985 and graduated from the PLAAF
3th Flight College in 1989. As an PLAAF pilot and then
squadron commander, he accumulated 1000 flight-hours. He was selected as
Shenzhou taikonaut in January 1998. Zhai was one of the backup crew of the
historic Shenzhou 5 mission.
- Zhang Xiaoguan, born in Liaoning
Province.
- Zhao Chuandong
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