A cumulative 197 days in orbit have established Wang Yaping as the female Chinese astronaut with the longest time spent in space. As a military transport pilot turned taikonaut, she transitioned from piloting aircraft over Wuhan to executing complex extravehicular activities on the Tiangong space station, marking significant milestones for the People's Republic of China in crewed space exploration.
Military Aviation Background
Born in Yantai in 1980, Wang entered the PLA Air Force Aviation University after graduating from Yantai Yizhong High School in 1997. She joined the air force that August as part of the seventh batch of female military pilots. During her service, she accumulated 1,600 hours of safe flight time, earning the classification of Air Force Class II pilot. Her operational history includes participating in combat readiness exercises, Wenchuan Earthquake relief efforts, and conducting weather modification tasks for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
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Wang joined the People's Liberation Army Astronaut Corps in May 2010. Following her tenure as a backup crew member for the 2012 Shenzhou 9 mission, she launched on the Shenzhou 10 mission in June 2013. During this orbital period, she docked with the Tiangong-1 station, where she performed scientific experiments and broadcast a physics lesson to students on Earth. Her service was formally acknowledged with the Spaceflight Exploit Medal.
Shenzhou 13 and Extravehicular Activity
In October 2021, Wang began her second spaceflight mission aboard the Shenzhou 13, becoming the first Chinese woman to travel to space twice and the first to board the Tiangong space station. On 7 November 2021, she performed an extravehicular activity alongside Zhai Zhigang. The operation lasted six hours and 25 minutes, during which she utilized a spacesuit modified for her height. This mission set the record for the longest crewed stay for the Chinese space program at that time.
Public and Academic Service
Beyond her astronaut career, Wang has maintained a presence in national governance and academia. She served a five-year term as a deputy to the National People's Congress starting in March 2018. Holding the rank of Da Xiao, she continues to pursue academic interests, including doctoral studies in psychology at Peking University. Her contributions to national aerospace efforts were further recognized with a second Spaceflight Exploit Medal in 2022.
Fast facts
- Born: 1980, Yantai
- Citizenship: People's Republic of China
- Military Rank: Da Xiao
- Education: PLA Air Force Aviation University
- First Flight: Shenzhou 10 (2013)
- Awards: Spaceflight Exploit Medal (2013, 2022)
Questions readers ask
Was Wang Yaping the first Chinese woman in space?
No, she was the second Chinese woman selected for the astronaut corps and the second to travel to space, following Liu Yang.
What record did Wang set in 2022?
She set the record for the longest cumulative stay in space by a female Chinese astronaut, totaling 197 days.
Achievements
- Educated at PLA Air Force Aviation University
- Worked as astronaut and military transport pilot
