06-007 Payload Specialist, the true meaning behind the title

06-007

Payload Specialist, the true meaning behind the title

May, 2023 is another exciting month for space enthusiasts. We first saw Axiom Mission 2 sending 4 astronauts to ISS on the 21^st of May. Three days later, we saw Virgin Galactic resuming their sub-orbital flight, introducing 3 new faces to the space. Then in less than 48 hours before month end, China successfully launched our Shenzhou 16 spacecraft to Tiangong Space Station. Adding 2 new taikonauts to the Shenzhou “Hall of Fame”.

Since the beginning of the month, many people have started guessing who will be on board of Shenzhou 16. It was not an easy guess. Difference from NASA, China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) only announces the names of taikonauts a few days before a scheduled space flight. Identities of taikonauts are state secret. Now, everyone knows who they are. And to our surprise, there is a distinguishing face among the 3 chosen ones.

Gui Haichao, our first Payload Specialist

Payload Specialist Gui Haichao

Chinese researcher Gui Haichao is the one passenger that drew the most attention. He is young, handsome, and smart. He is only 36 but is already a professor. Most importantly, he is the first civilian taikonaut in the world. Prior to the launch of Shenzhou 16, we have already sent 16 taikonauts to the space. But all of them are from the military, including our first taikonaut Yang Liwei and our beautiful “Teacher in space” Wang Yaping. Gui Haichao is the first non-military personal on board of a Shenzhou spacecraft.

Medias, both Chinese and Western, were attracted by his young face. People were busy finding out who he is and his past achievements on academic. Some viewed sending Gui to the space as a big milestone of Chinese space program. Some asked why a taikonaut can wear glasses. But they all missed one point. Gui is not only the first civilian taikonaut. He was also given a title on his mission, a Payload Specialist.

The meaning behind the title

Why is the title "Payload Specialist" so important? If Payload Specialist only means civilian space traveler to you, full stop, then you miss the point. Yes, Gui is a specialist, of course. He is a professional. And he is a civilian, for sure. But his title Payload Specialist has a special meaning, not to Gui himself, but to NASA.

This is not a title invited by CASC. Payload Specialist is a NASA term. Back in the 80s, NASA has started sending civilian astronauts to the space for short scientific missions. Altogether, NASA has sent 60 Payload Specialists to the space. Among them, we saw the first Chinese astronaut, Taylor Gun-Jin Wang. But sad things happened. 3 Payload Specialists were killed in their missions, 2 in the Challenger disaster and 1 in the Columbia disaster. Since then, NASA terminated the program.

Nowadays, civilians are still being sent to ISS, but under a different title Mission Specialist. CASC reused this old title for Gui Haichao has a meaning to NASA. CASC is telling everyone that, we are now picking up the job that NASA gave up. “You don’t do it? Let me do it!”

Back in 2007, Barbara Morgan hosted the first ever space lecture of mankind on the ISS. But NASA is not doing this anymore. So, Wang Yaping picked up the job and did this on Tiangong. “You don’t do it? Let me do it!” Same principle.

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