As China's next generation of astronauts prepares to embark on the upcoming Shenzhou-18 crewed spaceflight mission, one of the new faces in the crew is Li Guangsu, a 36-year-old pilot who has undergone a rigorous transformation from fighter jet pilot to space pilot.
Born in 1987 in Peixian County, east China's Jiangsu Province, Li's passion for aviation took shape during his high school years, where he aspired to become an air force pilot and defend his homeland from the skies.
After rigorous selection, Li then was admitted to the Aviation University of the Air Force and joined the team of cadet flight corps.
In 2018, the news of China launching selection of the third group of astronaut candidates for the country's manned space mission filled Li with excitement and challenge.
Li, with his impeccable track record as a pilot, met all the selection criteria and enthusiastically threw his hat into the ring.
The rigorous selection process tested candidates both mentally and physically, evaluating their aptitude for space missions. After multiple rounds of scrutiny, Li stood out from numerous pilot applicants and was selected as one of the new astronauts in September 2020.
The transition from pilot to astronaut brought immense pressure, as Li had to master a wide range of new skills, from aerospace theory to vestibular function training.
"When I was studying the theory of modified aircraft models, we had a passing grade, but no one in the aerospace program tells you how much is considered passing. Everyone aimed for a perfect score of 100, resolutely avoiding settling for 99 points. Besides the foundational theoretical knowledge, I also found the vestibular training to be a major challenge for me. As an astronaut, these spatial orientation exercises are a required component, and you have to go through them. So what did I do? I endured it, going through round after round of rotations, forcing myself to adapt to it, and ultimately completing this challenge with composure and confidence," said Li.
According to the astronaut training program, the third batch of astronauts, including Li, underwent an extensive regimen encompassing over 100 exercises spanning 8 major categories. From physical conditioning to mental fortitude, and from building endurance to mastering specialized knowledge - these rigorous trials were essential prerequisites on the path to becoming an astronaut.
Over the past three years, Li dedicated himself to this systematic training and learning process, emerging alongside his fellow crew members Ye Guangfu and Li Cong to be selected for the Shenzhou-18 mission.
As the third manned mission in the application and development phase of the space station, the Shenzhou-18 crewed spaceflight mission will involve critical tasks like spacewalks and space station maintenance, for which the team has undergone targeted preparation.
"Our space station has faced harassment from space debris during its operation. This mission involves installing protective measures to shield the entire station as much as possible. We've done a lot of training on the ground, including extensive exercises for our extravehicular activities. One of our most crucial training sites is the weightlessness tank, where we practice our EVA (Extravehicular activity) procedures. Specifically for the task of installing the station's protective panels, we've already conducted targeted training, and the results have been good. Our teamwork and coordination have also been quite seamless," said Li.
The Shenzhou-18 crewed spaceship will be launched at 20:59 Thursday (Beijing Time) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, said the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).
All the three Shenzhou-18 astronauts are the post-1980s generation.
Former fighter pilot soars to new heights as space pilot in China's Shenzhou-18 mission
