Chinese Women in Space

Dean Cheng / March 15, 2010

Even as the US continues to debate how it will sustain a manned presence in space, China made yet another major announcement about  its manned space program. In an announcement from the Chinese Ministry of Defense, it was declared  that the newest class of Chinese astronauts included two women. Unlike their male counterparts, these are drawn from the ranks of China’s transport aircraft pilots (presumably because the People’s Liberation Army Air Force [PLAAF] has no female fighter pilots). (more…)