Zhai Zhigang

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Zhai Zhigang (Chinese: 翟志刚) (born 10 October 1966) is a Chinese pilot selected as part of the Shenzhou program.

Zhai was born in Longjiang County, Qiqihar, Heilongjiang province. He enrolled at the People's Liberation Army Air Force Aviation Institute, became a fighter pilot, then as a squadron leader. Despite logging only 1000 hours of flying time, he became Lieutenant Colonel and a pilot trainer in the PLAFF.

[edit] Career as an astronaut

In 1996 Lieutenant Colonel Zhai was selected to trial for the astronaut program and was selected to be the first group of fourteen in 1998. He was one of three astronauts who were part of the final group to train for the Shenzhou 5 flight. Yang Liwei was picked for the flight, with Zhai Zhigang ranked second ahead of Nie Haisheng. Zhai was one of the six astronauts in the final training for Shenzhou 6. The Ta Kung Pao newspaper had reported that Zhai Zhigang and Nie Haisheng were the leading pair, after having been in the final group of three for Shenzhou 5. However, Zhai had been paired with Wu Jie during training. Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng flew the flight.