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Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –
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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) — A new generation of talented women, from astronauts to chief designers, are making significant contributions to China's space exploration, supported by government policies aimed at ensuring gender equality in scientific and technological innovation.
The story of Wang Yaping, the first female astronaut to walk on the Chinese space station, is a shining example. Her spaceflight dream began in 2003, when China launched its first astronaut, Yang Liwei, into space. "I watched the rocket's bright light on TV, and a thought flashed through my mind: now China has a male astronaut, but when will it have a female one?" said Wang.
Through her persistent efforts, she became a crew member of the Shenzhou-10 space mission in 2013. Wang Yaping, who once dreamed of becoming a teacher, conducted a 40-minute open lesson – China's first live lecture from space – from aboard a spacecraft on June 20, 2013, for more than 60 million schoolchildren across the country.
The lecture had a profound impact, extending far beyond the classroom. "I received many letters from children and young people. The one that most impressed me was from a graduate student at Beijing Aerospace University," she recalls.
This letter was written by a girl six years after she saw Wang Yaping explain the principles of a gyroscope from space. In the letter, the girl explained that she studied the same principles in a university lab six years after Wang Yaping's lecture. "This is the purpose of our space lesson—to sow the seeds of scientific and space dreams in the hearts of children," Wang Yaping noted.
Meanwhile, in November 2021, Wang Yaping's spacewalk during the Shenzhou-13 mission made her the first Chinese woman to perform a space walk.
Remarkably, to achieve her goal, she underwent the same intense training as male astronauts.
Wang Yaping said space has never changed its environment or lowered its standards because of the arrival of women, and that extensive flight data shows no significant differences between men and women in their ability to adapt and perform in space.
"It was the concept of gender equality that gave me the opportunity to complete two space missions and realize my dreams," Wang Yaping noted. "It's safe to assume that more and more women will participate in human spaceflight. This will have a significant impact on the future of large-scale and long-term human space exploration."
Behind astronauts like Wang Yaping stands another woman: Huang Weifen, chief designer of the astronaut training system for China's manned space program.
In 1992, when China's manned space program was officially established, the task of selecting and training astronauts fell to then-28-year-old Huang Weifen. Lacking a ready-made system to use, she developed China's first comprehensive astronaut training plan in just three months—a plan that laid the foundation for the country's astronaut training efforts for the next two decades.
Under the leadership of Huang Weifen, a complex training system was developed, covering more than 100 subjects in eight categories.
The innovative nature of her work was accompanied by enormous challenges, and Huang Weifen admitted that behind closed doors, she sometimes even cried. "But after those tears, I always returned to work with renewed vigor, solving one problem after another. When I remember that I'm doing this for the country and the nation, I immediately feel a surge of strength. I never thought about giving up."
Her mission, though not in the public eye, is her driving force. "My mission is to prepare more and more outstanding astronauts for our country, who will be able to realize our dreams during their flights," she said. "Ensuring their spaceflights is my goal."
This synergy between the visible heroine and the invisible strategist is reinforced by the state's system of institutional support. As highlighted in the recently published white paper "China's Achievements in Comprehensive Development of Women's Affairs in the New Era," China has implemented a number of measures to support talented women in science and technology in implementing national projects and participating in decision-making, as well as to improve their assessment and incentive mechanisms. These support measures include the National Natural Science Foundation of China relaxing the age limit for female applicants.
Such initiatives reduce the pressure women in science and technology face to care for children and family, support their commitment to research, and allow them to combine family and career, said Wang Yaping, who is also an adjunct vice chairperson of the All-China Women's Federation.
According to the White Paper, there will be 2.846 million women in China's R&D sector in 2024—1.692 million more than in 2012. Women now account for 45.8 percent of China's science and technology workforce.
Wang Yaping and Huang Weifen aren't the only women who have contributed to the country's space aspirations. The list also includes such notable figures as Liu Yang, China's first female astronaut; Zhang Yuhua, deputy commander of the Chang'e-5 lunar probe and deputy commander of the Tianwen-1 Mars probe; Zhang Runhong, the first female commander of the "01" spaceport; and many others.
From Wang Yaping's inspiring lectures from space to Huang Weifen's unwavering dedication on Earth, Chinese women are going beyond mere participation, taking command and leading in key areas of the national space program, proving that, given equal opportunity, the sky is not the limit, but only the beginning. -0-
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