Short Definition A taikonaut is a Chinese astronaut who has experience in space exploration and is a member of Chinese space programme. Taikonauts participate in Chinese space missions, contributing to advancements in space exploration and scientific research.
Detailed Definition China is the 3rd country, after Soviet Union and the United States to send a human into space in 2003. The first Chinese taikonaut, Yang Liwei, was launched into space aboard the Shenzhou 5 spacecraft.
Etymology The word "taikonaut" is a combination of the Chinese word "taikong" meaning "space" and the Greek suffix "-naut" meaning "traveller."
The term "taikonaut" is a term that refers to Chinese astronauts who are trained to participate in China's space missions.
Taikonauts are selected from People's Liberation Army Air Force and undergo intensive physical and psychological training to prepare for the challenges of spaceflight. China plans to select and train more taikonauts for its future missions.
Translations of Terms/Concepts into Partner Languages
French: un taïkonaute
German: der Taikonaut
Italian: taikonauta
Polish: tajkonauta
Swedish: taikonaut
Translations of Terms/Concepts into other languages
A dozen of handpicked Chinese astronauts, or taikonauts as they are called, are set to explore new horizons in space in four manned flight missions within two years. In the first of these missions, three taikonauts aboard the Shenzhou-12 spacecraft have already successfully made it to space.