The Shenzhou XVII mission's three crew members

Tang Hongbo

Senior Colonel Tang Hongbo, 47, a native of Hunan province, joined a People's Liberation Army Air Force flight school in September 1995 and was assigned to a fighter jet regiment after graduation.

He became a first-grade pilot at the combat unit and was gradually promoted to the post of group commander.

In May 2010, Tang was selected as a member of the second group of astronauts for the PLA Astronaut Division and six years later he was a reserve for the two-member crew of the Shenzhou XI mission.

He made his first journey into space in June 2021 on the three-month Shenzhou XII mission, becoming one of the first inhabitants of China's Tiangong space station.

In November 2021, he was given the honorary title "Heroic Astronaut" and awarded the Third-grade Space Service Medal.

Tang, a first-grade astronaut, is the mission commander of the Shenzhou XVII spaceflight.

Tang Shengjie

Lieutenant Colonel Tang Shengjie, 33, a native of Gansu province, joined the PLA Air Force in September 2008.

He was a first-grade pilot and squadron commander at an Air Force fighter jet brigade before being selected as one of the PLA Astronaut Division's third group of astronauts in September 2020.

He is now a fourth-grade astronaut.

Jiang Xinlin

Lieutenant Colonel Jiang Xinlin, 35, a native of Henan province, enlisted in the PLA Ground Force as a cadet in September 2006.

After graduation, he was selected by the PLA Air Force for fighter jet training.

Before joining the PLA Astronaut Division in September 2020 as one of the third generation of Chinese astronauts, he was a first-grade pilot and deputy group commander of an Air Force fighter jet brigade.

Jiang is now a fourth-grade astronaut.