TAIKONAUT Meaning and
Definition
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A "taikonaut" is a noun that refers to an astronaut or cosmonaut from the People's Republic of China who travels to space. The term is derived from the Chinese word "taikong," which means "space" and "naut" from the Greek word "nautes," meaning "sailor." Hence, a taikonaut can be understood as a "space sailor" or "space traveler" from China.
Taikonauts are individuals who have been selected and trained by the China National Space Administration (CNSA) to carry out missions in space, operate spacecraft, and conduct various scientific experiments. They represent China's advancements in space exploration and contribute to the nation's goal of expanding its presence in outer space.
Similar to their counterparts in other space agencies, taikonauts undergo rigorous physical and psychological training, as well as specialized education in a wide range of scientific disciplines. Their training includes simulated missions, survival training, spacecraft operation, spacewalks, and weightlessness adaptation.
Since their first manned mission in 2003, taikonauts have conducted spacewalks, satellite deployment, docking experiments, and even had one crew member spend an extended period on the Chinese space station. Taikonauts exemplify the dedication, bravery, and scientific expertise necessary for space exploration. Through their endeavors, they contribute to scientific research, technological development, and the advancement of human knowledge about space, furthering China's position in the global space arena.
Etymology of TAIKONAUT
The word "taikonaut" is a combination of two terms: "taikong", which means "space", and "naut", derived from the Greek word "nautes", which means "sailor" or "navigator".
The term was first introduced in 1998 by the Chinese media as a way to refer to Chinese astronauts or space travelers. It was coined to parallel the words "astronaut" (used by NASA for American space travelers) and "cosmonaut" (used by the Soviet Union for their space travelers). The term "taikonaut" is specific to Chinese space missions and is not used universally to describe all astronauts around the world.
