Zhai Zhigang

Zhai Zhigang
CNSA Astronaut
Nationality China Chinese
Status Active
Born (1966-10-10) October 10, 1966
Longjiang County, Qiqihar
Other occupation
 Fighter pilot
Rank Lieutenant Colonel, PLAAF
Time in space
 2d 20h 18m
Selection Chinese Group 1
Total EVAs
 1
Total EVA time
 22 minutes
Missions Shenzhou 7
Mission insignia
This is a Chinese name; the family name is Zhai.
Zhai Zhigang
Traditional Chinese 翟志剛
Simplified Chinese 翟志刚

Zhai Zhigang (born October 10, 1966) is an officer in the People's Liberation Army Air Force and a CNSA astronaut. During the Shenzhou 7 mission in 2008, he became the first Chinese citizen to carry out a spacewalk.[1]

Early career

Zhai was born in Longjiang County, Qiqihar, Heilongjiang province. He enrolled at the People's Liberation Army Air Force Aviation Institute and studied to be a fighter pilot and then as a squadron leader. Zhai became a Lieutenant Colonel and pilot trainer in the PLAAF after logging 1000 hours of flying time.[2]

CNSA career

In 1996, Zhai was selected to trial for the astronaut program and was selected to be the first group of fourteen in 1998. He was one of three members of the final group to train for the Shenzhou 5 flight. Yang Liwei was picked for the flight, with Zhai Zhigang ranked second ahead of Nie Haisheng. Zhai was one of the six astronauts in the final training for Shenzhou 6. The Ta Kung Pao newspaper had reported that Zhai Zhigang and Nie Haisheng were the leading pair, after having been in the final group of three for Shenzhou 5. However, Zhai had been paired with Wu Jie during training. Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng flew the flight.

Zhai, along with Liu Boming and Jing Haipeng was selected for prime crew on Shenzhou 7, with Zhai as commander, on 17 September 2008. On 25 September 2008, at 21:10 CST, they launched into space as the first three-man crew for China, China's third human spaceflight mission.[3][4] On 27 September 2008, Zhai became the first Chinese astronaut to spacewalk, completely outside the craft. Fellow crew member Liu Boming stood by at the airlock and could be seen straddling the portal. Zhai successfully completed his spacewalk at 18:25 CST.[5] Zhai wore the Chinese developed Feitian space suit, while Liu wore the Russian derived Orlan-M space suit.

Personal life

Zhai's favourite pastimes are calligraphy, dancing and gadgets. He is married to Zhang Shujing and has one son.

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080916/wl_asia_afp/chinaspace[] Fighter pilot to be China's first space walker: govt
  2. ↑ 航天英雄翟志刚刘伯明天津杨村起飞 (in Chinese). 人民网·天津视窗. Retrieved 2010-01-27.
  3. ↑ CCTV1 live telecast
  4. ↑ http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2008-09/26/content_7060750.htm
  5. ↑ CCTV4 live telecast
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