Who will be China's lunar taikonauts?
Who will be China's lunar taikonauts?
This post was originally published on Ko-fi on March 9th 2024. As of June 2024, I would add Ye Guangfu and Jing Haipeng as likely candidates.
With China ramping up its efforts for its crewed lunar landing before 2030 many have started to ask and wonder who will be chosen for the missions. I believe there are five likely candidates to lead the crewed lunar missions. But who are they?
Fei Junlong
Fei Junlong, born on the 5th of May 1965, has flown to space twice already as part of the Shenzhou 6 and Shenzhou 15 missions. Fei was selected for taikonaut training in 1998 and has also served as a Major General in the People's Liberation Army Strategic Support Force.
Fei's first trip to space was the Shenzhou 6 mission, of which he was the commander. Shenzhou 6 was China's second crewed space mission and the first to fly two taikonauts. During the flight, the crew moved between the modules, changed spacesuits, and performed various experiments. The mission was critical in the development of the Shenzhou spacecraft ahead of longer missions. The Shenzhou 6 mission lasted four days nineteen hours and thirty-three minutes.
The second trip to space for Fei was Shenzhou 15, where he was once again was the commander. As commander of the Shenzhou 15 mission, he oversaw the transition from the construction phase to the scientific laboratory phase. During his time onboard, Fei performed four spacewalks totaling a little over seven hours outside of the station at minimum, as China Manned Space Agency did not state the duration of the last three spacewalks. The Shenzhou 15 mission lasted from the 29th of November 2022 to the 3rd of June 2023.
Fei Junlong is one of China's most skilled astronauts and is incredibly dedicated to training, according to his Shenzhou 15 crewmates. Since 2005 Fei has held the Aerospace Achievement Medal and the honorary title of Space Hero, alongside many other awards and honors.
Liu Yang
Liu Yang, born on the 6th of October 1978, has flown to space twice already as part of the Shenzhou 9 and Shenzhou 14 missions. Liu was selected for taikonaut training in 2010 and has also served as a Senior Colonel in the People's Liberation Army Strategic Support Force.
Liu's first trip to space was during the Shenzhou 9 mission to the Tiangong-1 space station. During the mission, Liu performed various science experiments inside the small space lab. The Shenzhou 9 mission started on the 16th of June 2012 and ended on the 29th of June 2012.
The second trip to space for Liu was the Shenzhou 14 mission to China's now permanently crewed space station. While onboard she assisted in the expansion of the station when the Wentian and Mengtian modules arrived. She also performed a spacewalk spending six hours and seven minutes outside. The Shenzhou 14 mission lasted from the 5th of June 2022 to the 4th of December 2022.
Liu has reportedly excelled in training for previous missions and has totaled over 1680 hours of flight experience in aircraft. She has also been described as a brilliant speaker, should China's space agency seek to have an 'Armstrong' moment.
Wang Yaping
Wang Yaping, born in January 1980, has flown to space twice so far as part of the Shenzhou 10 and Shenzhou 13 missions. Wang was selected for taikonaut training in 2010 and also served as a Senior Colonel in the People's Liberation Army Strategic Support Force.
The first trip to space for Wang was the Shenzhou 10 mission to the Tiangong-1 space station. Her objectives for the mission were similar to Liu's as she performed various science experiments onboard. The mission lasted from the 11th of June 2013 until the 25th of June 2013.
Wang's second trip to space was as part of the Shenzhou 13 mission to China's now permanently crewed space station back when it consisted of just the Tianhe module. The Shenzhou 13 mission would be the first to spend six months at the station and would have Wang perform a spacewalk to install vital equipment.
Wang Yaping has been awarded the title of Hero Astronaut and is currently studying for a doctoral degree in psychology at Peking University. She remains involved in China's crewed space efforts to this day and has recently expressed interest in taking part in the crewed lunar missions.
Tang Hongbo
Tang Hongbo, born in October 1975, has flown to space twice so far as part of the Shenzhou 12 and Shenzhou 17 missions. Tang was selected for taikonaut training in 2010 and also served as a Senior Colonel in the People's Liberation Army Strategic Support Force.
Tang's first trip to space was during the Shenzhou 12, which was the first mission to the Tianhe module that now makes up China's permanently crewed space station. While on the station he helped install equipment as well as performing a spacewalk in an upgraded version of the Feitian space suit. The Shenzhou 12 mission started on the 17th of June 2021 and ended on the 17th of September 2021.
Tang is currently commanding the Shenzhou 17 mission during a six-month stay onboard. He is currently the record holder for the most time spent in space by a taikonaut, and potentially the most prolific spacewalker from China if another spacewalk is planned for his current mission. The Shenzhou 17 mission started on the 26th of October 2023 and is planned to end in April 2024.
As mentioned already Tang Hongbo is the record holder for the most time spent in space by a taikonaut and an extremely experienced spacewalker. Both of which could make him well-suited for a lunar mission.
Yang Liwei
Yang Liwei, born on the 21st of June 1965, is currently the Vice Chief Designer at China Manned Space Engineering and previously served as a fighter pilot for the People's Liberation Army Air Force, obtaining the rank of Major General. Yang was chosen as a taikonaut candidate in 1998.
Most notably, Yang was the first taikonaut to be sent into orbit from the People's Republic of China as part of the Shenzhou 5 mission.
The Shenzhou-5 mission started at 01:00 am, Universal Coordinated Time, on the 15th of October with the launch of a Long March 2F rocket from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center and ended at 22:22 pm, twenty-one hours later, on the 15th of October. The mission verified that the Shenzhou spacecraft could safely carry a human onboard and return them safely. Yang was the sole crew member for the Shenzhou 5 mission.
While unlikely for Yang Liwei to fly again due to his status as a national hero there is a small chance he will fly around the Moon in a political move. Yang likely knows a great deal about China's crewed lunar spacecraft in his current position as Vice Chief Designer so could provide valuable insights and fixes in flight.
End notes
I think there's is a good chance any of the five fly a lunar mission, likely as mission commander. It's to early to know who would be the first taikonaut to step foot on the Moon at this time sadly.
However, if you have a prediction I'd like to know so please do leave a comment!