Nationality Chinese Role Astronaut Selection Chinese Group 1 | Mission insignia Name Nie Haisheng Other occupation Fighter pilot | |
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Time in space 19 days, 10 hours, 1 min Space agency China National Space Administration Similar People Zhang Xiaoguang, Fei Junlong, Wang Yaping | ||
Full video: Shenzhou-10 spacecraft returns to Earth
Nie Haisheng (simplified Chinese: 聂海胜; traditional Chinese: 聶海勝; pinyin: Niè Hǎishèng; born 13 October 1964) is a Chinese military pilot and CNSA astronaut.
Contents
- Full video Shenzhou 10 spacecraft returns to Earth
- Astronauts celebrate Dragon Boat Festival
- Military career
- CNSA career
- Personal
- References
Astronauts celebrate Dragon Boat Festival
Military career
Nie was born on 13 October 1964 in Yangdang town of Zaoyang, Hubei Province. After graduating from high school he joined the People's Liberation Army Air Force and became a fighter pilot. He trained at the PLAAF's No. 7 Flying School and graduated in 1987.
On 12 June 1989 while flying at 13,000 feet (4000 m) his plane suffered an explosion and he lost his engine. The plane began to spin to the ground and the cabin began to heat up. Trying to regain control he waited until the plane was 1300 to 1700 feet (400 to 500 meters) before choosing to eject. For his handling of the situation he was honored with third-class merit.
Prior to Shenzhou 10, Nie had attained the rank of Major General.
CNSA career
In 1998, he was selected for the Chinese spaceflight program and was one of three candidates who were part of the final group to train for the Shenzhou 5 flight, China's first manned spaceflight. Yang Liwei was picked for the flight, with Zhai Zhigang ranked second ahead of Niè Hǎishèng.
Nie went into orbit, along with Fei Junlong (commander), as flight engineer of the Shenzhou 6 flight on 12 October 2005. The mission lasted just under five days.
He was selected to be the commander of the backup crew for the Shenzhou 9 mission. In 2013, Nie was selected to command the Shenzhou 10 second manned space mission to the first Chinese space station Tiangong 1. He became the first officer hold general rank at the time of their launch in the Chinese program with the Shenzhou 10 mission.
Personal
He is married to Niè Jiélín (聂捷琳) and they have a daughter named Nie Tianxiang (聂天翔). During the Shenzhou 6 mission he celebrated his 41st birthday in space.
The asteroid 9517 Niehaisheng was named after him.