Gong Xingao (simplified Chinese: 龚新高; traditional Chinese: 龔新高; pinyin: Gōng Xīngāo; born June 1980) is a Chinese taikonaut (astronaut) serving in the People's Liberation Army Astronaut Corps (PLAAC). He is known for being part of the backup crews for the Shenzhou 12 and Shenzhou 14 missions.
Early Life and Education
Gong Xingao was born in June 1980 in Shulan, Jilin Province, China. He joined the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in September 1998. Like many Chinese taikonauts, he likely has a background in aviation or engineering.Astronaut Career
Gong Xingao was selected into the third batch of Chinese taikonauts in May 2010. Following his selection, he underwent extensive training at the PLAAC, preparing for future human spaceflight missions.He was assigned as a backup crew member for the Shenzhou 12 mission, which launched on June 17, 2021. This mission was the first crewed flight to the Tiangong space station's Tianhe core module, with the primary crew consisting of Nie Haisheng, Liu Boming, and Tang Hongbo.
Gong Xingao was subsequently assigned as a backup crew member for the Shenzhou 14 mission, which launched on June 5, 2022. This mission continued the construction and outfitting of the Tiangong space station. The primary crew for Shenzhou 14 included Chen Dong, Liu Yang, and Cai Xuzhe.
As of his last public appearance related to mission assignments, Gong Xingao holds the rank of Senior Colonel in the PLAAC. While he has not yet flown to space, his repeated assignment to backup crews signifies his advanced training and readiness for future expeditions to the Tiangong space station.
See Also
- People's Liberation Army Astronaut Corps
- Shenzhou program
- Tiangong program