In our time, there are names that you may not often hear, but they are powerful enough to shake people's hearts. Zhai Zhigang, a aerospace hero from a poor background, used his life to interpret what responsibility and sacrifice are. In space, far from Earth, when you learn that your dear mother has left this world forever, can you feel the heartache?
In a cold place in northeastern China, Zhai Zhixin began as an ordinary farmer in 1966. A small village in Qiqihar, Heilongjiang Province, where the environment is barren and the living conditions of the people are very difficult. This is especially true of Zhai Zhigang's family, he is the sixth child in the family, the family is already a large population, and his father was paralyzed in the lower half of his body due to a work injury, and the burden of the family falls on the shoulders of a strong mother.
This mother, a real strong woman, not only has to take care of her husband, but also has to support six children. In the face of difficulties, she did not choose to give up, but worked harder in the production team, and fried melon seeds at night to earn a meager extra income. She is a firm believer in the power of education to change the lives of children, and she wants to make sure that children can receive an education, no matter how difficult life is.
Zhai Zhigang grew up in poverty in his childhood, not only did he excel in his studies, but also often helped his mother with housework, always thinking about how to reduce his mother's burden. In the early 1980s, when the Air Force came to his school to recruit pilots, Zhai Zhigang saw an opportunity to change his fate. He knows that being a pilot means not only being able to fly into the skies, but more importantly, completely changing the future of himself and his family.
Although the physical condition was not the most ideal, Zhai Zhigang passed all and was selected as a pre-selection student for the Air Force pilot. In 1985, he excitedly received the admission letter from Changchun No. 2 Flight Academy, and at that moment, he knew that he was about to open a new chapter in his life. His conversation with his mother was filled with tears and laughter, an infinite vision for the future.
During his days at the flight academy, Zhai Zhigang's life was both strict and fulfilling. He had to learn not only theoretical knowledge, but also various flight training. When he received his allowance at the end of the month, he would save money and send most of the money home, leaving only a small amount of pocket money. He always cares about his family and hopes to reduce his mother's burden through his own efforts. This sense of responsibility and feelings for his family and country are firmly rooted in his heart.
In 2003, when Zhai Zhigang was already a veteran pilot, he received a life-changing opportunity to join the Chinese astronaut team as an alternate candidate for the Shenzhou 5 mission. It was a leap forward to continue his dream of flying, and a great test of his personal ability. Zhai Zhigang is well aware of the importance of this mission, and he silently promised in his heart that he would complete this mission no matter what.
Fate always inadvertently hits people hard. It was in his hometown where he was training intensively that the bad news came that his beloved mother was seriously ill. This is undoubtedly a huge blow to Zhai Zhigang. He was faced with a dilemma: to stay at the training center or to go home to spend time with his mother, but the decision was extremely heavy.
Soon the news of his mother's death came, and Zhai Zhigang could not be by his mother's side in her last moments, which became an eternal pain in his heart. He once watched the stars in space, silently thinking about his mother's thoughts and guilt, and this emotion became an indelible mark on his heart.
This profound personal sacrifice made Zhai Zhigang more determined to explore the universe for his country in his later aerospace career. Every flight, every mission, he saw it as a promise to his mother, commemorating her teachings and sacrifices with practical actions.
Over time, Zhai Zhigang has been involved in a number of important space missions, including Shenzhou-16. Every successful landing is not only an affirmation of his personal ability, but also the inheritance of his mother's spirit. Although he grew from a poor peasant boy to a national hero, he never forgot his roots in his mother, who taught him to be strong and brave in a small northern village.
Zhai Zhigang is a typical example of countless Chinese astronaut stories, who not only demonstrated extraordinary courage and firm will in space, but also showed deep human sophistication and family and country feelings on the ground. Behind every astronaut, there is an unknown sacrifice and perseverance, and they have created the glory of the country with their lives and blood.