CNR, Beijing, May 23 - According to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA), the combination of the Shenzhou-16 manned spacecraft and the Long March 2F Yao-16 carrier rocket was transferred to the launch area on May 22, with plans for a launch in the coming days.
Shenzhou-16 Awaits Liftoff.jpg The combination of Shenzhou-16 and Long March 2F Yao-16 during transportation on May 22. (Source: Xinhua News Agency)
Based on China's 2023 manned spaceflight "mission list," following the launch of Shenzhou-16 this month, Shenzhou-17 is scheduled for launch in October. A focal point of note is that the third batch of Chinese astronauts will make their debut on the space station stage, with flight engineers and payload specialists appearing for the first time in the Shenzhou-16 and Shenzhou-17 crews.
Third Batch of Reserve Astronauts Selected in 2020
On October 1, 2020, the CMSA announced the completion of the selection process for the third batch of reserve astronauts for China's manned space program. A total of 18 reserve astronauts (including one female) were selected, comprising seven space pilots, seven spaceflight engineers, and four payload specialists, who will become new members of China's astronaut team.
To meet the needs of China's space station project, the third batch of reserve astronauts includes two new categories in addition to space pilots: spaceflight engineers and payload specialists. Space pilots and spaceflight engineers are primarily responsible for directly operating and managing spacecraft and conducting related technical tests, while payload specialists focus on in-orbit operations of space science experiment payloads.
Space pilots are selected from active-duty pilots in the Air Force, spaceflight engineers from engineering and technical personnel in aerospace engineering and related fields, and payload specialists from researchers in space science research and application fields of the manned space program.
Potential for Non-Pilot Astronauts
The crew for the Shenzhou-16 mission has not yet been announced, but it is likely to maintain a three-member team. Since the successful launch of Shenzhou-5, China has sent 16 astronauts (26 person-times) into space, with all nine astronauts from the first batch and seven from the second batch having completed space missions. The Shenzhou-16 crew is expected to follow the "veteran-led, rookie-included" model, with a veteran astronaut leading the mission and the debut of astronauts from the third batch, marking a major highlight of this mission.
If flight engineers and payload specialists are included in the Shenzhou-16 and Shenzhou-17 crews, it will mark the first time that non-pilot astronauts have entered space to carry out missions.
Payload Specialists: No Pilot Background Required
Payload specialists are a category of astronauts classified by mission type, responsible for conducting scientific and applied research experiments in space stations. As space science and technology activities become increasingly specialized, payload specialists have emerged to meet these needs. Unlike space pilots, payload specialists are not required to have a pilot background but must possess professional training and extensive operational experience in science, medicine, engineering, or other relevant fields, primarily responsible for operating related experimental payloads.
Different countries have used different terms for astronauts involved in space experiment operations at various stages. For example, the United States referred to them as "scientist astronauts" during the Apollo moon landing phase and "payload specialists" during the Space Shuttle era, while Russia called them "research astronauts" during the Mir space station phase.
Requirements for Payload Specialist Selection
On October 2, 2022, the CMSA announced the launch of the selection process for the fourth batch of reserve astronauts to meet the needs of subsequent manned spaceflight missions. A total of 12 to 14 reserve astronauts will be selected, including approximately two payload specialists.
Candidates for payload specialists are required to hold a doctoral degree in a relevant field, have at least three years of professional experience in the industry, and be between 30 and 45 years old. They must also meet certain physical requirements, with male candidates required to be between 162 and 175 centimeters tall and female candidates between 160 and 175 centimeters tall.