The People's Liberation Army Astronaut Corps (PLAAC; Chinese: 中国人民解放军航天员大队), also known as the Chinese Astronaut Corps (Chinese: 中国航天员大队), is a Beijing-based deputy-corps grade People's Liberation Army Aerospace Force (PLAASF) and is responsible for the selection and training of the astronaut corps for Project 921, the Chinese manned space program.[1]
| People's Liberation Army Astronaut Corps | |
|---|---|
Emblem of the People's Liberation Army
| |
| Active | 1998; 26 years ago (1998) |
| Country |  People's Republic of China |
| Allegiance |  Chinese Communist Party |
| Branch | People's Liberation Army Aerospace Force |
| Part of |  People's Liberation Army |
In October 1992, a Commission for Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense-PLAAF joint task force started the preliminary selection for astronauts; 1,506 pilots were identified and twelve were chosen as candidates.[2] The Astronaut Corps was established on January 5, 1998 and the twelve along with two PLAAF trainees sent to Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in 1996 forms Chinese Group 1.[3][4]
Seven pilots entered the Astronaut Corps in May 2010 as Group 2.[4]
In 2014, Group 1 astronauts Wu Jie, Li Qinglong, Chen Quan, Zhao Chuandong, and Pan Zhanchun retired from the Astronaut Corps due to age; none of them had flown in a mission.[5]
The Astronaut Corps was part of the General Armaments Department until GAD was disbanded in January 2016.[3] As part of the 2015 military reform, it became part of the Strategic Support Force.[3]
In January and March 2018, China Manned Space Agency vice director, astronaut Yang Liwei stated that Group 3 selection was expected to begin in 2018 and would include engineers and mission specialists.[6] Yang also stated that Group 3 would include civilians from industry and research institutions.[6]