China plans to expand the participation of international astronauts and space tourists in its space station missions. The country's space agency expects to include a diverse group of participants in the near future, according to an agency spokesperson.
Three groups of astronauts have been trained by China so far, with the selection process for a fourth group nearing completion, Lin Xiqiang, spokesperson for the Shenzhou XVIII mission, announced at a press briefing at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.
The upcoming group of Chinese astronauts will join the active roster to undertake future missions, including China's ambitions for a crewed lunar landing, Lin added.
The Chinese astronaut corps exhibits a wide range of ages and professional backgrounds, with a strong focus on the skills and psychological and physical robustness required for space missions, according to Lin.
