Nie Haisheng
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 Shenzhou 6 crew portrait (L-R: Fèi Jùnlóng, Niè Hǎishèng) |
|
| Astronaut | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Chinese |
| Born | October 13, 1964 Zaoyang, Hubei |
| Occupation1 | Fighter pilot |
| Rank | Colonel, PLAAF |
| Space time | 4 days, 19 hours, 33 min |
| Selection | Chinese Group 1 |
| Mission(s) | Shenzhou 6 |
| Mission insignia |  |
| 1 previous or current | |
Colonel Niè Hǎishèng (Simplified Chinese: 聂海胜; Traditional Chinese: 聶海勝) (born October 13, 1964) is a Chinese astronaut (yuhangyuan).
He was born 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. During his training at the PLAAF's No. 7 Flying School he was:
- Commander of a flight squadron
- Deputy Commander of a group
- Master navigator
Graduating in 1987 and continued a career in the PLAAF. He has reached the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
On June 12, 1989 while flying at 13,000 feet (4000 meters) 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.
[edit] Career as an astronaut
In 1998 he was selected for the astronaut program and was one of three astronauts who were part of the final group to train for the Shenzhou 5 flight. Yáng Lìwěi was picked for the flight, with Zhai Zhigang ranked second ahead of Niè Hǎishèng.
He was launched into orbit, along with Fèi Jùnlóng (commander), as flight engineer of the Shenzhou 6 flight on October 12, 2005. The mission lasted just under five days.
The asteroid 9517 Niehaisheng was named after him.
[edit] Personal Facts
He is married to Niè Jielin and has an 11 year old daughter as of 2005. During the Shenzhou 6 mission he celebrated in space his 41st birthday.
[edit] See also
Related China space links:
[edit] External links
- "Road to the space: stories of Niè Hǎishèng", PLA Daily, 2003-10-22.
- "Behind Every Successful Spaceship Launch is a Group of Women", Women of China English Monthly, January 2004.
- "China Prepares for Shenzhou VI Space Flight 13 October - Agency", China News Service, 24 September 2005.
- Niè Hǎishèng at the Encyclopedia Astronautica. Accessed 22 July 2005.
- Spacefacts biography of Nie Haisheng
