[May 7, CMSE News] The selection of China’s second group of astronauts has completed recently. Altogether 5 male astronauts and 2 female astronauts are selected out.

The selection of the second group of astronauts was fully initiated in May 2009. Through strict examinations and comments in three phases (preliminary selection, re-selection and final determination), 5 male astronauts and 2 female astronauts have been selected out from active-duty pilots in the Air Force. All the 7 astronauts have obtained bachelor’s degree with their age ranging from 30 to 35 years (average age 32.4 years). All the 7 astronauts are married. All the 5 male astronauts are the active-duty fighter plane pilots in the Air Force, and both the 2 female astronauts are the active-duty cargo plane pilots; and the average safe flight time of the 7 astronauts reaches 1,270.7 hours. Most of the 7 astronauts have ever undertaken flight tasks like rescue mission in Wenchuan Earthquake and military exercise, with good flight skills and good psychological quality. They are basically qualified as astronauts in terms of clinical medical conditions and space medical conditions. Afterwards, they will engage in the studies and trainings so as to get transformed from a pilot to an astronaut and undertake the sacred missions of China’s manned space flights as soon as possible.

China began to select its astronauts in 1998. In 2003, Yang Liwei successfully completed the Shenzhou V manned space flight task as the first astronaut, thus realizing the thousand-year dream of the Chinese for flying into space. In 2005, Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng successfully completed the Shenzhou VI manned space flight task and carried out the first manned space-related scientific experiment in a real sense on the history of China’s manned space flights. In 2008, Zhai Zhigang, Liu Boming and Jing Haipeng successfully completed the Shenzhou VII manned space flight task; Zhai Zhigang wearing a Feitian extravehicular space suit successfully stepped out from the module and left the first footmark of a Chinese in the space.