Backgrounder: Astronaut selection and training in China

WATCH VIDEO

Source: CCTV.com | 09-24-2008 18:30

Yang Liwei's historic manned space flight has made him a celebrity of the first order. But there are hundreds more space heroes behind the scenes.

Their excellent physical fitness and quick responses ensured  the success of the first manned space flight.

The first generation of Chinese astronauts were chosen from among 1,500 fighter pilots in the Chinese People's Liberation Army air force.

Their excellent physical fitness and quick responses ensured the success of the first manned space flight.

The selection standards are very rigorous, with only one in 100 meeting the requirements.

China started its astronaut selection process in 1996 and about 600 pilots qualified in the preliminary round, with just 60 left after a second round of cuts.

The pilots who were selected then came to Beijing for a physical check-up and psychological testing. Those who passed now make up the current team of astronauts.

All the finalists are college graduates and have at least 1,000 hours of flying experience.
 
The standard height for a Chinese astronaut is around 1.7 metres with a weight of about 65 kilograms.

This is the build of the average Chinese man, but people of smaller build are preferred because of the limited space in the capsule.

Physical check-ups for astronauts are complex, with candidates hospitalized for a month for comprehensive check-ups to ensure they are not likely to develop any illness.

The restrictive selection criteria are necessary because astronauts have to deal with many difficulties on missions.