China’s space exploration had reached a new milestone by 2021, when three astronauts of Shenzhou-12 crew successfully docked at the Tiangong space station, worked there for months, and then safely returned to the earth. The three – Nie Haisheng, Liu Boming, and Tang Hongbo – were selected rigorously from the current active, qualified Chinese astronauts. All these astronauts have been training for one of the most spectacular endeavors of China’s space exploration: building and operating China’s first space station.
It was back in 1992 that China approved a blueprint for her manned space program and began training astronauts. The first batch of astronauts was chosen from veteran pilots in the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force who had at least 600 flight hours in fighter jets or attack aircraft. More than 1,500 pilots applied, and after rounds of most demanding tests, the number reduced sharply to 14. In 1998, they became the founding members of the PLA Astronaut Group.
On October 15, 2003, Yang Liwei became the first Chinese person to go into space in the Shenzhou-5 manned mission, making China the third country to send a man into space. During his 600,000 km expedition, Yang simultaneously displayed the Chinese and UN flags to hundreds of millions of Chinese who were witnessing his feat on television, and said, “Make use of outer space peacefully and for the benefit of all humankind.”
Since Yang’s momentous journey, China has made a gigantic progress in space exploration, and more astronauts have been sent into orbit. The astronauts have performed scientific experiments and technological tests, undertaken extravehicular activities, and even delivered a science lecture watched by tens of millions of students.
To achieve these accomplishments, though, the astronauts have endured countless rounds of training, tests, and drills, shedding sweat and owing an enormous debt to their families for their thorough understanding and continuous support.
Once pilots are admitted to the astronaut team, they must immerse themselves in the study of about 60 subjects, including physics, astronautics, and astronomy. Normally, each of these subjects requires university students to take four-year courses, but the astronauts have just one year to complete their studies and must pass exams in every subject.
During training, to simulate weightlessness, astronauts have to wear suits that weigh 160 kg and stay underwater for about four hours. They lose an average of 2 kg during each training session, and after a session they would be too exhausted to hold chopsticks. When conducting centrifuge training, astronauts must endure a force as much as eight times their own weight so that they will be able to resist the g-forces that severely restrict the ability to breathe during lift-off. None of the astronauts has pressed the emergency button to halt the program.
The astronauts have also overcome hardships and difficulties during missions. Yang Liwei recalled that when Shenzhou-5 ascended toward the sky, a low-frequency oscillation made his internal organs vibrate violently, inflicting almost unbearable pain. He gritted his teeth and endured the pain because he was about to realize the nation’s long-lasting dream of flying in space. During the Shenzhou-7 mission, Zhai Zhigang and Liu Boming discovered they were unable to open the spaceship’s exit hatch. They decided to use a tool to force the hatch open despite the obvious safety risk. “We both knew what the other one was thinking at that very moment: We had to accomplish our mission and wave the Chinese flag in space, even though we realized that there would probably be no return trip for us,” Zhai said.
Looking back at their experiences, the astronauts thought their struggles, sacrifices, and persistence were all worthwhile. It is awe-inspiring and unforgettable for the astronauts to observe the earth and the universe from space. “I saw the lights of cities on earth and lightning ripping through the night sky. From our orbit, I saw the darkness and emptiness of space, and I wondered where the boundary is between the sky and the stars. I will never forget those scenes,” said Liu Wang, who took part in the Shenzhou-9 mission.
Jing Haipeng, who has taken part in several space missions, was awarded the August 1 Medal, the highest honor given to individual members of the Chinese PLA. Jing was both pleased and modest when he received the medal. For him, the honor and glory belong not only to the astronauts but also to tens of thousands of scientists, engineers, and workers who have played a role in the nation’s manned space programs and contributed to sending the astronauts into space.
The accomplishments of China’s space exploration have become a source of pride and growing confidence in the nation, in addition to sparking patriotic sentiments in Chinese communities across the world. Wang Yaping, the female astronaut who delivered the science lecture from space, felt overwhelmed by the number of boys and girls who wrote to her upon her return. She had never imagined that her teaching could trigger off so many dreams and aspirations. Yang Liwei recalled that during a visit to New York, a Chinese-American held his hands and tearfully told him that the nation’s achievements in space reflected the fact that “our motherland has risen”, which gave Chinese people living overseas more courage and strength.
The bravery, wisdom, and commitment the Chinese astronauts embody will definitely inspire numerous young people to join the lofty cause and set space as the stage to realize their ambitions and the dream of national rejuvenation. There is no limit to the vast universe or to China’s space exploration endeavors.