Beijing, May 23 (China National Radio) — According to the China Manned Space Engineering Office, the Shenzhou-16 spacecraft and the Long March 2F Y16 carrier rocket assembly were transported to the launch area on the 22nd, with the launch scheduled to take place in the coming days.
May 22: The Shenzhou-16 spacecraft and the Long March 2F Y16 carrier rocket assembly en route to the launch area. (Source: Xinhua News Agency)
According to China’s 2023 manned spaceflight “mission list,” following the launch of Shenzhou-16 this month, Shenzhou-17 is scheduled for launch in October. A particularly noteworthy highlight during this period is that the third batch of Chinese astronauts will take the stage at the space station; for the first time, the Shenzhou-16 and Shenzhou-17 crews will include both flight engineers and payload specialists.
Selection of the Third Batch of Reserve Astronauts Completed in 2020
According to an announcement by the China Manned Space Engineering Office on October 1, 2020, the selection process for the third batch of reserve astronauts for China’s manned space program has recently concluded. A total of 18 reserve astronauts (including one woman) were ultimately selected, comprising seven astronaut pilots, seven flight engineers, and four payload specialists. They will become new members of China’s astronaut corps.
It was reported that to meet the needs of China’s space station program, the third batch of reserve astronauts expanded beyond the pilot category to include flight engineers and payload specialists. Among them, pilots and flight engineers are primarily responsible for directly operating and managing spacecraft, as well as conducting related technical experiments. Payload specialists are primarily responsible for the in-orbit operation of space science experiment payloads.
Space pilots are selected from active-duty Air Force pilots, space flight engineers from engineering and technical personnel specializing in aerospace engineering and related fields, and payload specialists from researchers in the fields of space science research and applications within the manned spaceflight program.
May See First “Astronauts” Without a Pilot Background
Currently, the crew members for the Shenzhou-16 mission have not yet been announced. According to analysis, it is highly likely that the three-person crew configuration will be retained.
Reports indicate that since the successful launch of Shenzhou-5 through Shenzhou-15, China has sent 16 astronauts on 26 spaceflights. All 16 astronauts—comprising the first batch of 9 and the second batch of 7—have now completed their spaceflights. It is expected that the Shenzhou-16 crew will continue the tradition of “veterans mentoring newcomers,” with the older generation of astronauts leading the mission. At the same time, members of the third cohort of astronauts will make their debut, which is expected to be one of the highlights of this mission.
If the Shenzhou-16 and Shenzhou-17 crews include flight engineers and payload specialists for the first time, it will mark the first occasion that “astronauts” without a pilot background will enter space to carry out missions.
“Payload Specialists” Do Not Require a Pilot Background
According to reports, “payload specialists” are a category of astronauts defined by mission requirements. They refer to researchers conducting scientific and applied research experiments on the space station. Simply put, payload specialists are astronauts who participate in the operation of space experiments. As space science and technology activities have deepened and become increasingly specialized, the role of payload specialists has emerged. Payload specialists are not required to have a pilot background, but they must have received professional training in fields such as science, medicine, and engineering, as well as possess extensive practical experience. They are primarily responsible for operating the relevant experimental payloads.
According to reports, 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 era and as “payload specialists” during the Space Shuttle era; Russia referred to them as “research astronauts” during the Mir Space Station era, and so on.
What Are the Requirements for Selecting “Payload Specialists”?
On October 2, 2022, the China Manned Space Engineering Office announced that, to meet the needs of future manned spaceflight missions, the selection process for China’s fourth batch of reserve astronauts had recently begun. A total of 12 to 14 reserve astronauts will be selected this time, including approximately two payload specialists.
According to reports, candidates for payload specialists must hold a doctoral degree in a relevant field, have at least three years of professional experience in the relevant industry, and be between 30 and 45 years of age. Payload specialists must also meet certain physical requirements: men must be between 162 and 175 centimeters tall, while women must be between 160 and 175 centimeters tall.