Thinking about some of the bigger questions in life I am also thankful to the Chinese astronauts, or ‘taikonauts’, who dream of conquering the cosmos. By their efforts, courage, and commitment to science and development of new technology, these individuals have become the face of their nation and of people in general.

Chinese space history began relatively early in the 1960’s where China started launching satellites and other space vehicles. Subsequent to this the country has geared up with its space endeavor and launched its first taikonaut named Yang Liwei in October 2003 and has successfully conducted its human spaceflight mission of Shenzhou-11 spacecraft to the Tiangong-2 space lab in November 2016.

What is a Chinese astronaut called?

A Chinese astronaut is called a “taikonaut”, though more familiarly one can say it’s the same as an astronaut. Tai, kong (太空) and naut (帆船) where Tai means space and kong means vast, and naut is derived from Greek and literally means sailor. It was, however, first used by the Hong Kong-based journalist, Chen Lan in 1998 to refer to the Chinese astronauts.

The term “taikonaut” (太空人 (tài kōng rén)) is not of Chinese origin but have coined from the words, “Tai” meaning space and “naut” meaning related to ships or sailing. The word “taikonaut” was invented especially for the Chinese astronaut, and, as a result, there is no native Chinese script for this word. However the Chinese word for astronaut 宇航员 (yǔ háng yuán) may be translated word by word as space navigator.

China’s space agency is CNSA- China National Space Administration where it trains its own astronauts, and they are referred to as Chinese astronauts. Yang Liwei was the first Chinese astronaut who went to space and that also in the Shenzhou 5 that was launched in October 2003. Since then China has launched several taikonauts into space on several types of missions. Another milestone for China in the field of space exploration was achieved in July 2020 when the country launched its first spacecraft to the Mars making China the second country in the world to put a rover on the Martian surface after the United States. China also has intentions to build a space station orbiting the Earth which is currently planned to be complete by the year 2022. The country has very loft goals for the development of its space industry and intends to promote the active use of space in the future years.

Chinese Astronauts Facts

China’s first man in space is Yang Liwei, who was sent to space in the Shenzhou 5 spacecraft October 15, 2003.
Yang Liwei spent 21 hours into space and proved himself a hero back in China.
Outside experts get credit for coming up with the word ‘taikonaut’ meaning Chinese astronauts; Chen Lan of Hong Kong – 1998.
China’s own program is called China National Space Administration and it also has its own astronauts commonly known as ‘Chinese astronauts’.
China has sent a woman to space in 2012 in the form of the first Chinese female astronaut, Liu Yang spacecraft Shenzhou 9.
Until 2021, China has launched a total of 14 astronauts also known as taikonauts into space.
In 2016, China put into space the world’s first quantum satellite which uses quantum entanglement to transmit messages that cannot be intercepted.
In 2020 for the first time China launched a rover to Mars, thus became the second country in the world after the USA to make a rover landing on Mars.
One of these Mars rovers operates in China, it is called Zhurong and took a landing in Mars on May 14, 2021 where it performs scientific studies at the site of the landing.
China is set to construct an orbital space station to provide a base of operations in space and to be completed sometime before 2022.
Chinese Space Station Tiangong means “Heavenly Palace” in Chinese, comes with three modules and is to be used for scientific research and experiments for future space expeditions.
The Shenzhou spacecraft have been used in several EVA’s among them being the first EVA performed by a China astronaut Fei Junlong in the year 2008.
China has also launched several robotic mission to moon, amongst which Chang’e 5 in 2020 was a successful mission where it was able to obtain samples from the moon.
China has over the years developed to that level where they can now launch their own satellites and carry out their own space missions.
China has its long term vision of space exploration which includes the construction of a lunar base and manned mission to the Mars.

List of Chinese Astronauts

Yang Liwei: Yang Liwei better known as the first Chinese astronaut who traveled to space. He was sent to space with Shenzhou 5 another Chinese spacecraft on the fifteenth of October, 2003, and he orbited for 21 hours.
Fei Junlong: Now it is time for the second Chinese astronaut to fly to space. He flew on the Shenzhou 6 spacecraft for 5 days and was sent on this mission on October of 2005.
Nie Haisheng: The third China astronaut going to the space. He has been on three space missions: Shenzhou 6 model launched in 2005, Shenzhou 10 which was launched in 2013 and the Shenzhou 12 model that was recently launched in 2021.
Zhai Zhigang: Fourth Chinese astronaut and engineers sent to the space. He made China’s first ever spacewalk on September 27, 2008, during the Shenzhou-7 mission.
Jing Haipeng: YingAWN, January 2, 2009, “He is from Shanxi province and the fifth Chinese astronaut.” He has been on three space missions: Another successful space mission test was conducted on July 2008 Shenzhou 7, September 2012 Shenzhou 9 and November 2016, Shenzhou 11 were other tests conducted .
Liu Boming: After reviewing all the astronauts that have been sent to space, they are sixth Chinese astronauts to be sent to space. He has been on two space missions: Shenzhou 7 mission in 2008, and Shenzhou 13 mission in 2021.
Liu Wang: This was the seventh trip into the space by a Chinese astronaut. The Chinese astronaut was first sent into space on June 16, 2012, through the Shenzhou 9 spacecraft where he stayed for 13 days.
Wang Yaping: The eighth Chinese astronaut, the member of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army; Anniversary of the day Zhuang Yan went to space (June 19). Yang Yuchun started her space mission on June 11, 2013, on Shenzhou 10 spacecraft and completed her mission and returned to earth after 15 days in orbit.
Zhang Xiaoguang: The ninth persons to go to space from China. He was sent into space through the Shenzhou 10 spacecraft in the six of June in the year 2013 and stayed in space for 15 days.
Chen Dong: Member of the third group of astronauts Selected to become a pilot Yang Liwei has come of age to become an astronaut, the tenth Chinese to do so. He was blasted into space on Shenzhou 11 spacecraft on the 17th October, 2016, and remained in space for 33 days.
Ye Guangfu: The eleventh Chinese astronaut to travel from the face of the earth into outerspace. He joined Shenzhou 12 mission on June 17, 2021 and spent three months in space and during the mission he had to do extra vehicular activity.

Chinese astronauts complete first in orbit transfer to China's space station - BBC News

How many Chinese astronauts have been to the outer space?
So far in 2021, 14 taikonauts were sent to the space.

I am not very familiar with those Chinese space-names, what is the official space agency of China called?
Today the Chinese space agency is known as the China National Space Administration or CNSA.

Which was the first Chinese spacecraft that was designed for carrying a human in space?
China sent the Shenzhou 5 spacecraft into space that contains astronaut Yang Liwei on 15th October 2003.

To the best of my knowledge, my many spacewalks have the Chinese astronauts made?
China’s astronauts have been doing Extra-Vehicular Activities, or spacewalks, in total of six; in 2008, Zhai Zhigang of Shenzhou 7 mission performed the first spacewalk.

What are China’s goals and objectives in undertaking such space expedition?
Thus, China has several objectives for the space exploration; scientific one, defense one, and creation new technologies one. China has already placed Long March Carrier vehicles on schedule to become one of the leading space powers in the world in the coming years with a permanent space station and human missions in the Moon and Mars.

Who are considered to be Chinese astronauts and how are they trained?
China astronauts are trained from the military pilots, who have flown for a specified number of hours. They are recruited through a stringent process and this is followed by a few years of training involving exercises, practical experience in water and parabolic flights to create an environment that is akin to zero gravity.

How much time the Chinese astronauts spend in space?
Currently Chinese astronauts can spend from 5 to 15 days at most in space. That however was until 2021 when Shenzhou 12 mission was launched and it has spent 90 days in Space, making it the longest Chinese mission in Space.

What does the astronauts from China utilize in the space?
Chinese astronauts at the time when this article was written allowed to use the Shenzhou spacecraft which resembles the current Russia’ Soyuz spacecraft. Naoa, China is also working on a new craft known as the Crewed Space Transportation System (CSTS) and which may be used later on the Moon or even Mars.

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