Zhai Zhigang, Wang Yaping, and Ye Guangfu will perform the Shenzhou 13 manned flight mission-Characters

On the afternoon of October 14, the space station phase mission command headquarters held a press conference on the Shenzhou 13 manned mission at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center to inform about the mission.According to reports, the General Command decided to launch the Shenzhou 13 manned spacecraft at 0:23 on October 16, Beijing time. The flight crew consisted of astronauts Zhai Zhigang, Wang Yaping and Ye Guangfu, with Zhai Zhigang as the commander. Astronaut Ye Guangfu was flying for the first time.

The manned mission of Shenzhou 13 is the sixth mission of the key technology verification phase of the space station and the last mission of this phase. The main purpose is to carry out the key to the assembly and construction of the space station such as the manipulator-assisted cabin transposition and manual remote operation. Technical tests; ② Carry out 2-3 trips out of the capsule, install large and small robot arms and double-arm combination adapters and suspension devices to prepare for the subsequent space station construction tasks; ③ Further verify the health and safety of the astronauts staying in orbit for 6 months Life and work support technology; ④ Carry out scientific and technological experiments and applications in the fields of aerospace medicine and microgravity physics, and carry out diversified science education activities; ⑤ Comprehensive assessment of the functional performance of each engineering system to perform space station missions, and the compatibility between systems.

Zhai Zhigang, male, Han nationality, native of Longjiang, Heilongjiang, member of the Communist Party of China, master degree. Born in October 1966, joined the army in June 1985, joined the party in September 1991, and is currently a special-class astronaut of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Astronaut Battalion, with the rank of major general in professional technology. Served as a flight instructor in a certain center of the Air Force, and flew safely for 950 hours, and was rated as a first-class pilot of the Air Force. In January 1998, he was selected as the first batch of astronauts in China. In September 2003, he was selected as a backup astronaut for the Shenzhou V mission. In June 2005, he was selected as the backup crew of the Shenzhou VI mission. In September 2008, he performed the Shenzhou 7 flight mission and served as the commander. In November of the same year, he was awarded the honorary title of “Space Hero” by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the State Council, and the Central Military Commission, and was awarded the “Space Merit Medal.” In January 2013, he was selected as a backup astronaut for the Shenzhou 10 mission. In December 2019, he was selected as the commander of the Shenzhou 13 flight mission crew.

Wang Yaping, female, Han nationality, native of Yantai, Shandong, member of the Communist Party of China, master degree. Born in January 1980, enlisted in the army in August 1997, joined the party in May 2000, and is currently a first-class astronaut of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Astronaut Brigade, with the rank of colonel. Served as the deputy commander of a certain division and regiment of the Air Force Aviation. He flew safely for 1,567 hours and was rated as a second-class pilot of the Air Force. In May 2010, he was selected as the second batch of astronauts in China. In March 2012, he was selected as a backup astronaut for the Shenzhou 9 mission. In June 2013, he carried out the Shenzhou 10 flight mission. In July of the same year, he was awarded the honorary title of “Heroic Astronaut” by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the State Council, and the Central Military Commission, and was awarded the “Class 3 Space Meritorious Medal.” In December 2019, he was selected into the Shenzhou 13 flight mission crew.

Ye Guangfu, male, Han nationality, native of Chengdu, Sichuan, member of the Communist Party of China, master degree. Born in September 1980, enlisted in the army in August 1998, joined the party in May 2002, and is now a second-level astronaut of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Astronaut Brigade, with the rank of colonel. Served as the Air Combat Shooting Director of the Combat Training Unit of the Air Force Aviation Division and Regiment Command. He flew safely for 1,100 hours and was rated as a first-class pilot of the Air Force. In May 2010, he was selected as the second batch of astronauts in China. In December 2019, he was selected into the Shenzhou 13 flight mission crew.