Tale of two trailblazers: Grueling training, hopes and dreams

Jing Haipeng (left) and Chen Dong leave for the Shenzhou XI mission at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Northwest China, Oct 17, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

In total, 11 Chinese astronauts have gone into space aboard Shenzhou spacecraft. They are from the country's two batches of 21 astronauts, and eight out of the first batch 14 astronauts have entered the space.

They are Yang Liwei, Fei Junlong, Nie Haisheng, Zhi Zhigang, Liu Boming, Jing Haipeng, Liu Wang and Zhang Xiaoguang. Nie has taken part in two manned missions, and Jing joined in three flights.

The first 14 astronauts were more like brave explorers in the country's aerospace industry, and they have dedicated their lifetime to the industry that has complex and subtle traits, Wu said.

"Most of us were born in the 1960s and experienced big changes in the country. Driven by utilitarian ideas, we strove for honor for the country, the family and individuals," Wu said.

"We are at a good era, the manned space program might be the best way for us to realize personal value," Wu said. China's manned space missions have been 100 percent success, but sadly not all astronauts could enter space, he said.