Zhai Zhigang
Zhai Zhigang | |
|---|---|
| 翟志刚 | |
Chinese Group 1 | |
Total EVAs | 3 |
Total EVA time | 12 hours 58 minutes[1] |
| Missions | Shenzhou 7, Shenzhou 13 |
| Chinese name | |
Hanyu Pinyin | Zhái Zhìgāng |
Zhai Zhigang (
.Early life and education
Zhai was born in a rural village in
Air Force career
Zhai became a lieutenant colonel and pilot trainer in the PLAAF after logging 1000 hours of flying time.[5]
Astronaut Corps career
In 1996, Zhai was selected as a candidate for the taikonaut program and was selected to be the first group of fourteen in 1998. He was one of three members of the final group to train for the Shenzhou 5 flight. Yang Liwei was picked for the flight, with Zhai Zhigang ranked second ahead of Nie Haisheng. Zhai was one of the six taikonauts in the final training for Shenzhou 6 Ta Kung Pao newspaper had reported that Zhai Zhigang and Nie Haisheng were the leading pair, after having been in the final group of three for Shenzhou 5. However, Zhai had been paired with Wu Jie during training. Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng flew the flight.
Shenzhou 7
Zhai, along with
Shenzhou 13
Zhai was selected as commander to fly on the Shenzhou 13 alongside Wang Yaping and Ye Guangfu as his second spaceflight mission to the Tiangong space station.[9] On 7 November 2021, Zhai carried out his second spacewalk alongside Wang who became China's first woman to perform a spacewalk.[10] On 26 December 2021, Zhai carried out his third spacewalk with Ye.[11]
Personal life
Zhai's favourite pastimes are
See also
- List of Chinese astronauts
- Chinese space programme
References
- ^ "Zhai Zhigang - EVA experience". Retrieved 27 December 2021.
- ^ @yangyuguang1 (11 October 2022). "Happy birthday to Mr. Zhai Zhigang, the first space walker of China! He is also a member of @ASE_Astronauts" (Tweet). Retrieved 25 November 2022 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Chinese astronaut takes historic walk in space". Reuters. 26 September 2008. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
- ^ ISSN 1673-4955.
- ^ 航天英雄翟志刚刘伯明天津杨村起飞. 人民网·天津视窗 (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 5 April 2010. Retrieved 27 January 2010.
- ^ CCTV1 live telecast
- ^ "Shenzhou VII launched for 1st spacewalk".
- ^ CCTV4 live telecast
- ^ "China unveils Shenzhou-13 crew for six-month space station mission".
- ^ "China's Shenzhou 13 crew takes its first spacewalk, the country's 1st by a female astronaut". Space.com. 7 November 2021. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
- ^ "Shenzhou-13 crew conducts second spacewalk of mission". Nasaspaceflight.com. 26 December 2021. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
External links
- "We want to fly higher for China: stories of Zhai Zhigang". PLA Daily. 22 October 2003. Archived from the originalon 2 March 2006.
- Zhai Zhigang at the Encyclopedia Astronautica. Accessed 22 July 2005.
- Spacefacts biography of Zhai Zhigang