Nie Haisheng

Nie Haisheng

Nie Haisheng（聂海胜）is a Chinese astronaut, who was onboard with Fei Junlong in the spacecraft Shenzhou 6 in 2005, and one of the crewmen on the spacecraft Shenzhou 10 in 2013.

On June 20, 2013, Nie gave a lecture in Tiangong 1 with Wang Yaping, China’s second female astronaut, and another crew member of Shenzhou 10. During the lecture, Nie dangled in the air, crossing his legs. The purpose of the show was to demonstrate how zero gravity could affect life.

On June 26, 2013, upon the return to Earth of Nie and his crew members, a reporter from Chinanews asked Nie why he had gained 7 kilograms in the past eight years. Nie’s weight has been a hot online topic since his second mission.

Nie is not overweight for a qualified astronaut and his weight is normal for a middle-aged man, who was 42 years old when he conducted his first space mission, according to Deng Yibin, the director of Chinese Astronauts Scientific Research and Training Center.

It was later discovered that Nie gained 5 kilograms; the astronaut is now weighting 72 kilograms.

Born in Hubei, in September 1964, Nie was admitted to the Changchun Institute of Air Force Flight upon his graduation from high school.

Nie was selected as one of the first astronauts in 1998 after completing over a dozen of training, in subjects such as fundamental theories, adaptabilities in space atmosphere and professional techniques.

In October2005, Fei and him, completed the manned space mission of Shenzhou 6.

In 2011, he was promoted to major general.

In April 2013, he was selected as one of the crew members of Shenzhou 10.

On June 11, 2013, Zhang Xiaoguang, Wang Yaping and Nie were in Shenzhou 10, flying to the space to dock with Tiangong 1.

On June 26, 2013, the crew completed the mission and returned to Earth.