Going to the heavens for the country! Happy 24th birthday to the Astronaut Corps!

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Chinese People's Liberation Army Astronaut Corps

Today is your 24th birthday

Happy birthday!

You are the real “China Heavenly Group”!

24 years ago today, on January 5, 1998, the first batch of 14 astronauts selected from thousands of outstanding pilots across the army entered the Aerospace City, and the Chinese People's Liberation Army Astronaut Brigade was officially established.

From then on, this day became the birthday of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Astronaut Brigade.

Photo by Zhang Daozheng, a reporter from China News Service

In the 24 years since then, the astronaut corps has successfully completed many manned space flight missions, achieved a series of major breakthroughs such as multi-person multi-day missions, space extravehicular activities, rendezvous and docking, and mid-term in-orbit stay of astronauts. Eleven astronauts have been awarded the honorary titles of "Space Hero" and "Heroic Astronaut".

On July 28, 2017, President Xi Jinping signed a general order to award the Chinese People's Liberation Army Astronaut Brigade with first-class merit.

Today, we walk into this glorious group and get closer to these space heroes.

Salute to the space heroes!

Comprehensive sources: Science and Technology Daily, China Manned Spaceflight, Sina Weibo @People's Daily, etc.