China starts selection of third-batch astronauts.

 

中国开始选拔第三代宇航员。

 

A third round of Chinese astronaut selection is underway.

 

The announcement comes as Chinese activities in space hit a high gear.

 

Last month, the cargo¹ spacecraft, the Tianzhou-1, was successfully launched. This is considered a critical step in the creation of a Chinese space station in the coming 5 years.

 

Yang Liwei, deputy director of China's manned space engineering office, says the new astronaut selection process is part of a move toward China's "Space Station Era."

 

"Scientific experiments are going to be a major part of the new space station, so we're going to need astronauts who have the right backgrounds," said Yang Liwei.

 

Previous astronauts in China's space program, including Yang Liwei, have all been drawn² from the Chinese Air Force.

 

The China Youth Daily is reporting the new selection process is going to give a priority to engineering, with preference given to flight engineers and load experts with Masters degrees or above.

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