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The selection of astronauts to integrate Hong Kong people into the overall situation requires conditions

2022-10-03T10:50:04.494Z


The China Manned Space Engineering Office announced on Sunday (2nd) that the selection of the country's fourth batch of reserve astronauts, which is preparing to start, will have two spaces for space payload experts open to Hong Kong and Macau to participate. Qualified selection


The China Manned Space Engineering Office announced on Sunday (2nd) that the selection of the country's fourth batch of reserve astronauts, which is preparing to start, will have two spaces for space payload experts open to Hong Kong and Macau to participate.

Hong Kong people who meet the selection criteria can participate in the selection in Hong Kong and Macau, and those who qualify will compete with other national candidates for these two places.


China's space and space industry has developed rapidly in recent years. Even if it is blocked by Western technology led by the United States, it can still independently develop and break through many space and space technology and application difficulties, including China's independently operated satellite positioning system "Beidou", China's exclusive space station "Tiangong" , and reusable spacecraft and launchers.

The fact that Hong Kong people can participate in the national space program to become astronauts is not only an honor for Hong Kong people, but also reflects the close relationship between Hong Kong and China, which belong to "one country".

As Chief Executive Li Jiachao said, the country's selection of load-bearing experts in Hong Kong signifies the country's confidence in Hong Kong's scientific research level, and also provides Hong Kong people with educational opportunities to better understand the country.

A promotional poster released by the China Manned Space Engineering Office.

(China Manned Space Engineering Office)

Hong Kong's participation in the national aerospace industry

In fact, the fact that Hong Kong people can participate in the selection of national astronauts has been discussed since at least December 2008 when the Shenzhou 7 astronauts visited Hong Kong, and it has only been realized today after more than ten years. There are inherent deficiencies in technology.

Because professional astronauts need to have considerable space piloting skills and adaptability, most of them are selected from military personnel with rich flight experience.

In the space race between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War, people like Gagarin, the first astronaut in the Soviet Union to go to space, and Tang Yanshi, the famous first man on the moon in the United States, were both military pilots.

At present, all astronauts in the country who have participated in or are participating in manned space missions also have a background in Air Force flight.

Several astronauts participated in the filming of the promotional video:

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Hong Kong itself does not have an army, and there is almost no way to join the army. Even the training of civil aviation pilots is mainly carried out in other places. The lack of an environment for training professional astronauts makes it difficult for Hong Kong to nurture talents suitable for astronauts.

In the early stage of the national space program, including manned spaceflight and the construction of space stations, the main focus was on space missions, and the selection of astronauts naturally focused more on flight experience.

However, with the development of the space industry, even if Hong Kong does not have the relevant technology, there are opportunities to participate in the space program.

Since the completion of the space station, space missions have become more diverse, and some operations, logistics, and scientific research work are not based on flight technology, nor do they necessarily need to be performed by professional astronauts.

Under such circumstances, Hong Kong people are more likely to join the ranks of astronauts.

This time, the load experts who are open to people from Hong Kong and Macao to participate in the selection are mainly responsible for the management and application of loads such as management personnel, equipment, and fuel. They do not need to be aviation professionals. A PhD in a scientific subject such as biology, medicine, physics, mechanical engineering is sufficient.

Develop aerospace technology to grasp the future

In the future, the country's manned space missions will become more and more diverse, including manned moon landings and even the Mars program, which will require experts in different fields. Hong Kong people will have more opportunities to become astronauts.

The aerospace industry will be an important development direction for mankind in the future, and Hong Kong can also take this opportunity to increase the promotion of aerospace technology.

Hong Kong already has a certain foundation. For example, the University of Science and Technology has opened a course in aerospace engineering for study, and City University will also introduce the same subject in the 2022/23 academic year.

In addition, some logistical scientific research other than aerospace engineering is also related to the space program. For example, in 2006, the National Lunar Exploration Engineering Center signed a cooperation agreement with the University of Science and Technology.

The Chang'e 3, 4, and 5 lunar probes in 2013, 2019 and 2020 all have instruments designed or developed by the University of Science and Technology. For example, the "Sampling Execution Device" in Chang'e 5 is responsible for collecting lunar soil. Designed by researchers at the Polytechnic University.

Now that there is a certain foundation, as long as the government continues to invest appropriate resources and guidance, this will not only further strengthen Hong Kong's position in the entire national aerospace industry chain, but also strengthen the connection and relationship between Hong Kong and the country. It can be described as killing two birds with one stone.

In recent years, it has often been mentioned that Hong Kong needs to integrate into the overall development of the country, and the direction is certainly correct.

However, in order to truly integrate into the overall development situation, it cannot be just talk on paper. Hong Kong must also have its own talent, development, and supporting foundations that can correspond to the overall situation.

This is true of the development of space and spaceflight, and even more so at the macro level such as economic development.

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Source: hk1

All news articles on 2022-10-03

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