People's Liberation Army Astronaut Corps
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| People's Liberation Army Astronaut Corps | |
|---|---|
 Original uploader was Nicolau at zh.wikipedia · Public domain · source | |
| Unit name | People's Liberation Army Astronaut Corps |
| Native name | 中国人民解放军航天员大队 |
| Country | China |
| Branch | People's Liberation Army |
| Type | Human spaceflight corps |
| Role | Astronaut training and operations |
| Garrison | Beijing |
| Commander | PLA Rocket Force leadership |
People's Liberation Army Astronaut Corps is the primary Chinese military formation responsible for selecting, training, equipping, and deploying crewed spaceflight personnel for the People's Republic of China. Established during the development of the Shenzhou program, the corps has supported missions associated with the China National Space Administration, the China Manned Space Agency, and cooperative projects involving the Chinese Academy of Sciences. It operates within the broader framework of the People's Liberation Army and interfaces with research institutes, aerospace industry contractors, and provincial aerospace centers.
History
The corps traces roots to early 1990s initiatives under the leadership of figures linked to the Shenzhou program, drawing on personnel associated with the China National Space Administration, the Ministry of Aerospace Industry, and institutes such as the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology and China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. Key milestones include selection rounds contemporaneous with the Shenzhou 5 and Shenzhou 6 preparations, followed by expansions during the Shenzhou 7 and Shenzhou 9 missions that paralleled developments at the Tiangong space station program. Influential events include cooperation with research projects from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, procurement programs from the State-owned enterprises, and diplomatic engagements at international venues such as interactions with Roscosmos during joint training in Star City and exchanges with NASA-era contacts after multilateral conferences.
Organization and Command
The corps is administratively aligned under PLA structures and operates in coordination with the China Manned Space Agency, with command influence from senior officers associated with the PLA Rocket Force and Ministry of National Defense leadership. Its internal structure includes flight crew divisions, backup crew contingents, medical branches linked to the Chinese PLA General Hospital system, and technical liaison units attached to the China Academy of Space Technology and China Astronaut Research and Training Center. Coordination occurs with provincial authorities overseeing aerospace industry hubs in Shanghai, Beijing, and Sichuan, and with state corporations such as China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation and China Electronics Technology Group Corporation for avionics and life-support systems.
Recruitment and Selection
Recruitment draws candidates from diverse institutions including the People's Liberation Army Air Force, the PLA Navy, civilian pilots from commercial airlines, engineers from Tsinghua University, Beijing Institute of Technology, and Harbin Institute of Technology, and medical officers affiliated with Peking University Health Science Center. Selection follows protocols established with input from the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and sports medicine units, incorporating physical fitness standards used by PLA airborne units, psychological evaluation methods developed with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and flight experience thresholds similar to those used in Russian cosmonaut selection at enterprises such as RSC Energia. Competitive selection phases have produced cohorts whose members later served on missions like Shenzhou 5, Shenzhou 6, Shenzhou 7, and subsequent Tiangong flights.
Training and Education
Training programs integrate modules from the China Astronaut Research and Training Center, simulation facilities modeled after Soyuz and spacecraft mockups, and biomedical curricula developed with cooperation from Peking Union Medical College and the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Flight simulation training draws upon expertise from Xi'an Aerospace Propulsion Institute and research inputs from the National Space Science Center, while extravehicular activity practice uses neutral buoyancy pools at facilities associated with institutes in Beijing and Shanghai. Language instruction, systems engineering coursework, and geopolitics briefings have been provided in coordination with Fudan University, Renmin University of China, and the PLA National Defence University, preparing personnel for international collisions of mission planning.
Missions and Operations
Corps personnel have flown on missions including milestone Shenzhou flights and long-duration assignments aboard Tiangong modules, contributing to construction and resupply tasks for the Chinese space station program alongside Tianzhou cargo missions developed by Tianjin-based industry. Operations involve rendezvous and docking procedures tested in cooperation with ground control centers in Beijing and Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, and coordination with launch complexes at Jiuquan, Wenchang, and Taiyuan. Scientific payloads supported include experiments from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, microgravity research from universities such as Zhejiang University, and biomedical studies conducted with the Chinese Center for Space Medicine.
Personnel and Notable Astronauts
Notable personnel drawn from selection cohorts have included figures who became symbolic of China’s human spaceflight achievements and who engaged with institutions such as the PLA Air Force, Beijing Normal University alumni, and Shanghai Jiao Tong University researchers. Crewmembers who commanded early flights built reputations linked to national awards and honors conferred by the National People’s Congress delegates and provincial leaders. Backup crew rotations have involved collaboration with international partners during exchange visits with Roscosmos, and liaison delegations have met delegations from the European Space Agency and academic delegations from Columbia University and Imperial College London.
Equipment and Facilities
Primary equipment and facilities supporting the corps include spacecraft like the Shenzhou series, orbital modules developed by the China Academy of Space Technology, cargo vehicles such as Tianzhou, and launch vehicles produced by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology. Training infrastructure comprises the China Astronaut Research and Training Center, neutral buoyancy facilities, centrifuge systems procured with domestic suppliers, and mission control centers operated by the China Manned Space Agency and ground networks centered at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center and Xichang Satellite Launch Center. Support industries include firms such as China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, CASIC, and research institutes like the National Time Service Center, contributing sensors, telemetry, and life-support subsystems.