Text | Zhang Dongfeng
The Shenzhou-18 manned spacecraft was successfully launched, and it was natural that the three astronauts on the mission had attracted everyone's attention.
On the afternoon of April 25, 2024, the departure ceremony of the astronauts of the Shenzhou-18 manned mission was held at the Wentian Pavilion Dream Garden Square of the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Beihe
In addition to the three people who are all "post-80s", Ye Guangfu went to space again as a commander, and another focus of attention is 36-year-old Li Guangsu, who was "actually a liberal arts student" in high school, which is in contrast to the high-tech impression left by aerospace on people's daily life.
Shenzhou-18 mission crew 03 astronaut Li Guangsu.
This can't help but remind people of another astronaut - Gui Haichao, a "Bo Navigator Celestial Member" who took the Shenzhou 16 manned spacecraft and successfully completed the set mission from May to October 2023. As the first payload expert of China's space station, one of the biggest differences between Gui Haichao and other previous astronauts is that he comes from a university teaching and research position. At one time, "post-85 doctoral supervisor, China's first non-military astronaut, and the first person to wear glasses to 'go to the sky'" became Gui Haichao's hotly discussed label, and was jokingly called "open life" by netizens, which also broke people's daily impression that astronauts often have to become air force pilots first, and then it is possible to realize the "flying dream" through layers of selection.
On January 19, 2024, the Shenzhou-16 astronauts made their first public appearance after returning from space, and Shenzhou-16 astronaut Gui Haichao answered questions from reporters at a press conference. (Source: Xinhua News Agency)
Although Gui Haichao and Li Guangsu have different growth trajectories to break the "ordinary impression" of astronauts, through the experiences of the two people, there are also some common characteristics behind the "unusual".
For example, following dreams. Where there are dreams, there are miracles. Although Li Guangsu chose liberal arts when he was in high school with Chinese and science, when he received the news that the Air Force was recruiting pilots, his classmates rushed to tell each other and enthusiastically signed up, igniting his dream of becoming an astronaut, so he resolutely made a choice. Gui Haichao heard on the campus radio in his sophomore year of high school that "the Shenzhou 5 manned spacecraft was successfully launched, and astronaut Yang Liwei became the first person to fly in China", and decisively chose to major in aerospace in college. It is conceivable that with the continuous development and growth of the mainland's aerospace industry, facing the "sea of stars" in the vast universe, Chinese will fly higher and farther, and in the future, there will definitely be people of different majors and occupations to become astronauts and realize the ideal of pursuing the dream of space.
Another example is the courage to endure hardships. The strict selection of astronauts determines that in order to realize their dreams, they must not only refuse to "lie flat", but also have to work harder than ordinary people. Gui Haichao was a "scholar" when he was in middle school, relying on hard work, "the first to read from the dormitory to the classroom every morning, and the last to return to the dormitory from the classroom at night", "He always staggers the peak when eating, and he is also studying in the interval between washing". As for Li Guangsu, a liberal arts student, in the face of the obscure formulas and symbols of science and engineering courses like "heavenly books", he has only one way to face difficulties, and can only overcome one problem at a time. When we see astronauts in the spotlight today, we must not ignore the hardships and sweats they have endured for their dreams.
The aerospace dream is the dream of a strong country and a nation. Through the "different splendor" of Gui Haichao and Li Guangsu, we intuitively feel that this great dream not only makes a country firm in its determination to be self-reliant and self-reliant in science and technology, but also lights up the dream of personal growth. On the road of integrating personal dreams into the dreams of the country and the nation, there will definitely be more people who create their own wonderful.
【Author】 Zhang Dongfeng
The Southern Review