Is the next Guihai Tide coming from Hong Kong? Li Jiachao's Inspiration Project for Candidates | Aerospace | Li Jiachao
The Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Li Jiachao, met with Hong Kong candidates who will soon go to Beijing to participate in the selection of national manned space engineering payload experts at the Protocol Hall today to cheer them on.
Li Jiachao said that the country launched the fourth batch of preliminary astronaut selection work last year and selected payload experts in Hong Kong for the first time, providing Hong Kong citizens with the opportunity to participate in the national manned space project. This reflects the country's high attention and recognition of Hong Kong's scientific and technological community, as well as its recognition as an international innovation and technology center.
Li Jiachao expressed that he is pleased that more than ten Hong Kong candidates from government departments, hospital authorities, universities, as well as other institutions and enterprises have passed the preliminary selection of payload experts. This fully demonstrates that Hong Kong has produced numerous talents in the fields of scientific research and innovation.
He encouraged all candidates to give their all during the selection stage, play to their strengths, strengthen their willpower, and overcome challenges. He wishes all candidates all the best and stands out, striving to realize the aerospace dream of Hong Kong people and making contributions to the national aerospace industry.
According to the China Manned Space Engineering Office in October last year, in order to meet the needs of subsequent manned space missions, the fourth batch of preparatory astronaut selection work has been launched in 2022. As of March 2023, the preliminary selection stage selection work has been completed, with more than 100 candidates entering the selection stage, including more than 10 candidates from Hong Kong and Macao regions. According to Lin Xiqiang, spokesperson for China's manned space engineering and deputy director of the China Manned Space Engineering Office, on May 29th, the plan is to complete all selection work by the end of this year. If candidates from Hong Kong and Macao pass the selection and selection process, they can enter the astronaut research and training center early next year.
A total of 12 to 14 reserve astronauts were selected this time, including 7 to 8 space pilots, 5 to 6 space flight engineers, and payload experts, including around 2 payload experts. Aerospace pilots are selected from active pilots in the land, sea, and air forces, aerospace flight engineers are selected from scientific research and engineering technicians engaged in aerospace engineering and related fields, and payload experts are selected from scientific researchers engaged in space science research and application related fields. This preliminary astronaut selection is also the first time a payload expert has been selected in the Hong Kong and Macao regions.
A payload expert is a type of task classification for astronauts, referring to researchers who conduct scientific and applied research experiments in space stations. The candidate must have a doctoral degree in a relevant professional field and have worked in the relevant industry for no less than 3 years, aged between 30 and 45. Load experts also need to meet certain physical requirements, with males having a height of 162 to 175 centimeters and females having a height of 160 to 175 centimeters.
Yang Liwei, Deputy Chief Designer of China's manned spaceflight engineering, once revealed that the vision requirements of payload experts will be lower than those of pilots, and low degree myopia can be accepted; But the requirements for knowledge structure will be more stringent. On May 30th, the launch of the Shenzhou-16 manned spacecraft was a complete success, and one of the crew members, a 36 year old professor and doctoral supervisor from the School of Astronautics and Astronautics at Beihang University, Gui Haichao, became the first payload expert for the Chinese space station.