China sends first civilian astronaut into space

Gui Haichao, a professor at Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, will become China's first civilian astronaut to fly into space.

Astronauts of the Shenzhou 16 mission include Gui Haichao, Jing Haipeng, Zhu Yangzhu (from left to right). Photo: Xinhua

Gui Haichao is scheduled to take off with two astronauts Jing Haipeng and Zhu Yangzhu of the Shenzhou 16 spacecraft at 9:31 a.m. on May 30, Beijing time (8:31 a.m. on May 30, Hanoi time) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China. Previously, all Chinese astronauts flying into space were from the People's Liberation Army (PLA).

Gui Haichao will be in charge of scientific experiments on the Tiangong space station during the mission, according to Lin Xiqiang, spokesman for the China Manned Space Administration (CMSA). He will conduct large-scale experiments in orbit, helping to study new quantum phenomena, high-precision space-time frequency systems, verify the theory of general relativity and the origin of life.

Analyst Chen Lan said Gui's participation was particularly important because previous missions had only involved astronauts trained as pilots and in charge of more technical work, not specialized scientists. "This means that from this mission onwards, China will open the door to space for ordinary people," he said.

The commander of Shenzhou 16 is Jing Haipeng, who is about to embark on his fourth space mission. The final member of the crew is engineer Zhu Yangzhu. Jing, Gui and Zhu are expected to work on the Tiangong station for about five months.

The Tiangong station is expected to operate in low Earth orbit, at an altitude of 400 - 450 km, for at least 10 years. The station will be operated by a rotating crew of 3 astronauts. The main T-shaped structure of the station will be completed in 2022. Previously, in 2011, China was kicked out of the International Space Station (ISS) program when the US banned NASA from cooperating with the country.

China does not plan to use Tiangong for global cooperation on the scale of the ISS, but is open to foreign cooperation. "China expects and welcomes foreign astronauts to participate in missions to the country's space station," Lin said.

Thu Thao (According to AFP )

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