People's Liberation Army Astronaut Corps | |
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![]() Emblem of the People's Liberation Army | |
Active | 1998 |
Country | ![]() |
Allegiance | ![]() |
Branch | People's Liberation Army Aerospace Force |
Part of | ![]() |
The People's Liberation Army Astronaut Corps (PLAAC; Chinese: 中国人民解放军航天员大队), also known as the Chinese Astronaut Corps ( Chinese: 中国航天员大队), is a Beijing-based deputy-corps grade People's Liberation Army Aerospace Force (PLAASF) and is responsible for the selection and training of the astronaut corps for Project 921, the Chinese manned space program. [1]
In October 1992, a Commission for Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense- PLAAF joint task force started the preliminary selection for astronauts; 1,506 pilots were identified and twelve were chosen as candidates. [2] The Astronaut Corps was established on January 5, 1998 and the twelve along with two PLAAF trainees sent to Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in 1996 forms Chinese Group 1. [3] [4]
Seven pilots entered the Astronaut Corps in May 2010 as Group 2. [4]
In 2014, Group 1 astronauts Wu Jie, Li Qinglong, Chen Quan, Zhao Chuandong, and Pan Zhanchun retired from the Astronaut Corps due to age; none of them had flown in a mission. [5]
The Astronaut Corps was part of the General Armaments Department until GAD was disbanded in January 2016. [3] As part of the 2015 military reform, it became part of the Strategic Support Force. [3]
In January and March 2018, China Manned Space Agency vice director, astronaut Yang Liwei stated that Group 3 selection was expected to begin in 2018 and would include engineers and mission specialists. [6] Yang also stated that Group 3 would include civilians from industry and research institutions. [6]
People's Liberation Army Astronaut Corps | |
---|---|
![]() Emblem of the People's Liberation Army | |
Active | 1998 |
Country | ![]() |
Allegiance | ![]() |
Branch | People's Liberation Army Aerospace Force |
Part of | ![]() |
The People's Liberation Army Astronaut Corps (PLAAC; Chinese: 中国人民解放军航天员大队), also known as the Chinese Astronaut Corps ( Chinese: 中国航天员大队), is a Beijing-based deputy-corps grade People's Liberation Army Aerospace Force (PLAASF) and is responsible for the selection and training of the astronaut corps for Project 921, the Chinese manned space program. [1]
In October 1992, a Commission for Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense- PLAAF joint task force started the preliminary selection for astronauts; 1,506 pilots were identified and twelve were chosen as candidates. [2] The Astronaut Corps was established on January 5, 1998 and the twelve along with two PLAAF trainees sent to Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in 1996 forms Chinese Group 1. [3] [4]
Seven pilots entered the Astronaut Corps in May 2010 as Group 2. [4]
In 2014, Group 1 astronauts Wu Jie, Li Qinglong, Chen Quan, Zhao Chuandong, and Pan Zhanchun retired from the Astronaut Corps due to age; none of them had flown in a mission. [5]
The Astronaut Corps was part of the General Armaments Department until GAD was disbanded in January 2016. [3] As part of the 2015 military reform, it became part of the Strategic Support Force. [3]
In January and March 2018, China Manned Space Agency vice director, astronaut Yang Liwei stated that Group 3 selection was expected to begin in 2018 and would include engineers and mission specialists. [6] Yang also stated that Group 3 would include civilians from industry and research institutions. [6]