China National Radio (CNR), Beijing, May 23rd Report – According to the China Manned Space Engineering Office (CMSEO), the combined body of the Shenzhou-16 manned spaceship and the Long March-2F Yao-16 carrier rocket was transferred to the launch area on the 22nd, and the launch is planned to be carried out at an appropriate time in the coming days.

On May 22nd, the combined body of the Shenzhou-16 manned spaceship and the Long March-2F Yao-16 carrier rocket was in transit. (Source: Xinhua News Agency)

According to China’s 2023 manned space "mission list," after the launch of Shenzhou-16 this month, Shenzhou-17 will also be launched in October. During this period, there is a particularly notable focus: the third batch of Chinese astronauts will step onto the stage of the space station, and the astronaut crews of Shenzhou-16 and Shenzhou-17 will include two new types of personnel for the first time – flight engineers and payload specialists.

The Third Batch of Reserve Astronauts Completed Selection in 2020

According to a notice from the China Manned Space Engineering Office on October 1, 2020, the selection of the third batch of reserve astronauts for China’s manned space program was recently completed. A total of 18 reserve astronauts (including 1 female) were finally selected, consisting of 7 space pilots, 7 space flight engineers, and 4 payload specialists. They have become new members of China’s astronaut team.

It was noted that to meet the needs of China’s space station project, the third batch of reserve astronauts added two categories – space flight engineers and payload specialists – on the basis of space pilots. Among them, space pilots and space flight engineers are mainly responsible for directly operating and managing spacecraft, as well as conducting relevant technical tests. Payload specialists are mainly responsible for the on-orbit operation of space science experiment payloads.

Space pilots are selected from active-duty pilots of the Air Force; space flight engineers are selected from engineers and technical personnel engaged in aerospace engineering and related fields; and payload specialists are selected from researchers in the field of space science research and applications under the manned space program.

It May Welcome the First "Astronauts" Not from a Pilot Background

At present, 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 still be retained.

Reports indicate that since the successful launch of Shenzhou-5, up to Shenzhou-15, China has sent 16 astronauts (26 person-times) into space. All 9 astronauts of the first active batch and 7 of the second batch have completed spaceflights. It is expected that the Shenzhou-16 crew will still adopt the "veteran-led" model, with senior astronauts leading the mission. At the same time, the third batch of astronauts will make their debut, which will be one of the biggest highlights of this mission.

If the crews of Shenzhou-16 and Shenzhou-17 include flight engineers and payload specialists for the first time, it will mean that "astronauts" not from a pilot background will enter space to perform missions for the first time in China’s manned space history.

"Payload Specialists" Do Not Require a Pilot Background

As introduced, payload specialists are a category of astronauts classified by mission. They refer to researchers who conduct scientific and applied research experiments on the space station. In simple terms, payload specialists are astronauts who participate in the operation of space experiments. With the deepening of space science and technology activities, such activities have become increasingly specialized, leading to the emergence of payload specialists. Payload specialists do not require a pilot background, but they must have received professional training in fields such as science, medicine, or engineering and have rich operational experience. Their main responsibility is to operate relevant experimental payloads.

It was also noted that different countries use different names for astronauts engaged in space experiment operations at different stages. For example, the United States referred to them as "scientist-astronauts" during the Apollo moon landing program and "payload specialists" during the space shuttle program; Russia called them "research astronauts" during the Mir space station program.

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 subsequent flight missions of the manned space program, the selection of the fourth batch of reserve astronauts in China had been launched recently. A total of 12 to 14 reserve astronauts will be selected this time, including approximately 2 payload specialists.

Reports state that candidates for payload specialists need to hold a doctoral degree in a relevant professional field, have at least 3 years of work experience in related industries, and be between 30 and 45 years old. Payload specialists also need to meet certain physical requirements: male candidates must be 162 to 175 cm tall, and female candidates must be 160 to 175 cm tall.