Some 50 scholars sign up for Chinese space missions

Some 50 academics and scholars from Hong Kong and Macau have signed up for the first-ever opportunity to join the country’s manned space missions.

Applications for payload specialists, a type of astronaut mainly responsible for conducting aerospace experiments and research, closed late last week in the HKSAR, following the earlier application deadline in the Macau SAR.

The recruitment drive was launched earlier this month, marking the first time the country had recruited candidates for payload specialists from the two SARs.

The Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau of the HKSAR government, which is in charge of the screening process in Hong Kong, said it had received nearly 50 applications by Wednesday last week, many of which came from universities, research institutes and local companies.

The number of applicants was considered desirable since there are strict requirements for payload specialists.

According to official announcements, the candidates must be Chinese nationals aged between 30 and 45, with a doctoral degree in a relevant field and have at least three years of professional working experience in a relevant discipline. They also need to meet certain physical attributes.

Benny Zee, director of the Office of Research and Knowledge Transfer Services of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), told Xinhua that both the number of applicants from the CUHK and the diversity of their backgrounds were beyond his expectation.

“Hong Kong has a competitive edge in basic research, and the recruitment for payload specialists is very inspiring for the scientists as it gives them an opportunity to take part in national research projects,” he said.

Earlier this month, at least four scholars from the University of Macau (UM) and the Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST) had reportedly signed up for the payload specialist selection. LV/Xinhua