The selection of the fourth batch of preparatory astronauts in China was completed by the end of the year, and foreign personnel were formally invited to Tiangong.

CTOnews.com, Oct. 25 (Xinhua)-- Lin Xiqiang, spokesman for China's manned space program and deputy director of the China manned Space Engineering Office, said that China is ready to invite foreign astronauts to participate in the mission of China's space station. China formally extended an invitation to the world to welcome all countries and regions committed to the peaceful use of outer space to participate in the mission of the Chinese space station.

In addition, the selection of the fourth batch of preparatory astronauts in China was fully launched in 2022, and it is planned to select 12 to 14 preparatory astronauts, including space pilots, space flight engineers, and load experts, and select load experts in Hong Kong and Macao for the first time.

At present, a total of more than 20 candidates have entered the final selection stage, and the candidates for space pilots cover the active pilots of the army, navy, and air force, and the candidates for space flight engineers and payload experts are mainly from relevant industrial departments, universities and scientific research institutions, especially several candidates from Hong Kong and Macao have entered the final stage of the selection of payload experts. All the selection work plans will be completed by the end of the year.

According to CTOnews.com, in May this year, China's space station ushered in the first load expert into space-Gui Haichao. Gui Haichao, a professor at Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, is mainly responsible for the on-orbit operation of space science experimental loads. He has received professional training and rich operation experience in the fields of science and aerospace engineering, and was selected into the Shenzhou 16 flight crew.