Chinese women in space facts for kids
In 2012, China made history by sending its first woman into space! This made China only the third country to do so, after Russia (formerly the Soviet Union) and the United States. It happened 49 years after the very first woman, Valentina Tereshkova, flew to space.
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History of Chinese Women in Space
After China successfully sent its first person to space in 2003 aboard Shenzhou 5, they announced plans to send a woman too. A leader from the All-China Women's Federation suggested that women should also be trained for space missions.
At first, there were special rules for women astronauts, like being married and having children. But these rules were later changed.
On June 16, 2012, Major Liu Yang became the first Chinese woman to launch into space. She flew on the Shenzhou 9 mission with two male crewmates to the Chinese space station Tiangong-1. Liu Yang was a transport pilot, not a fighter pilot. Her mission launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert. This launch happened exactly 49 years after Valentina Tereshkova's historic flight.
One year later, on June 16, 2013, two women were in space at the same time. One was Wang Yaping, the second Chinese woman in space, aboard Shenzhou 10 to Tiangong-1. The other was Karen Nyberg on the International Space Station.
In 2020, a 24-year-old Chinese engineer named Zhou Chengyu was a commander for the Chang'e 5 Moon mission. This mission launched on November 23, 2020.
On October 15, 2021, Colonel Wang Yaping made history again. She became the first Chinese woman to fly to space twice. She traveled on Shenzhou 13 with two male crewmates to the Tiangong space station. This mission also launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.
Chinese Women Astronauts by Mission
Here are the Chinese women who have flown into space:
| Name | Mission | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liu Yang | Shenzhou 9 Shenzhou 14 |
2012 2022 |
First Chinese woman in space; first mission to the Tiangong-1 space station. |
| Wang Yaping | Shenzhou 10 Shenzhou 13 |
2013 2021–2022 |
Second Chinese woman in space; second mission to Tiangong-1. First Chinese woman to fly twice and the first to walk in space. |
Amazing Firsts and Records
This information is updated as of December 4, 2022.
First Achievements in Space
| First | Date | Mission | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Chinese woman in space | 16 June 2012 | Shenzhou 9 | Liu Yang | |
| First Chinese woman in orbit | 16 June 2012 | Shenzhou 9 | Liu Yang | |
| First Chinese woman aboard a space station | 18 June 2012 | Shenzhou 9 | Liu Yang | Liu Yang went aboard the Tiangong-1 space station. |
| First Chinese woman to spacewalk | 7 November 2021 | Shenzhou 13 | Wang Yaping | |
| First Chinese woman to go on multiple missions | 15 October 2021 | Shenzhou 13 | Wang Yaping |
Space Records Held by Chinese Women
| Title | Data | Taikonaut | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Longest time in space (single mission) | 182 days, 9 hours and 32 minutes (Shenzhou 13) | Wang Yaping | |
| Longest time in space (total time) | 197 days and 1 minute (Shenzhou 10 and Shenzhou 13) | Wang Yaping | |
| Shortest time in space (single mission) | 12 days, 15 hours and 25 minutes (Shenzhou 9) | Liu Yang | |
| Shortest time in space (total time) | 195 days and 50 minutes (Shenzhou 9 and Shenzhou 14) | Liu Yang | |
| Longest time on EVA (single spacewalk) | 6 hours 25 minutes (Shenzhou 13) | Wang Yaping | |
| Longest time on EVA (total spacewalks) | 6 hours 25 minutes (Shenzhou 13) | Wang Yaping | |
| Shortest time on EVA (single spacewalk) | 6 hours 7 minutes (Shenzhou 14) | Liu Yang | |
| Shortest time on EVA (total spacewalks) | 6 hours 7 minutes (Shenzhou 14) | Liu Yang | |
| Most space missions | 2 missions | Wang Yaping Liu Yang |
|
| Least space missions | |||
| Most EVAs (spacewalks) | 2 EVAs | Wang Yaping Liu Yang |
|
| Least EVAs (spacewalks) |
See also
- People's Liberation Army Astronaut Corps
- List of Chinese astronauts
- List of female astronauts
