The Shenzhou-7 spaceship will carry Zhai Zhigang, Liu Boming and Jing Haipeng, all aged 42, for China's third manned space mission that will include the country's first-ever space walk.

Zhai Zhigang was born in October 1966, in Longjiang County, Heilongjiang Province, enrolled at the People's Liberation Army Air Force in 1985. He had 950 hours of safe flight time as a fighter pilot. Zhai become one of the first group of Chinese astronauts in January 1998.

Zhai was one of three astronauts who were part of the final group to train for the Shenzhou 5 flight in 2003. Yang Liwei was picked for the flight, with Zhai Zhigang ranked second ahead of Nie Haisheng. Zhai was also one of the six astronauts in the final training for Shenzhou-6 mission in 2005 during which Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng flew the flight.

Jing Haipeng was born in October 1966, in Yuncheng City, Shanxi Province. He joined the People's Liberation Army in 1985 and has clocked 1,200 hours of safe flight time. Jing was also selected to be one of the first group of Chinese astronauts in January 1998.. He was among the six trainees in for the Shenzhou-6 mission in 2005.

Liu Boming was born in Yi'an County, Heilongjiang Province, on September 1966. Liu joined the People's Liberation Army in 1985 and has clocked 1,050 hours of safe flight time. Also selected to be one of the first group of Chinese astronauts in January 1998, Liu was one of the six astronauts in the final training for Shenzhou-6 mission in 2005.

(Xinhua News Agency September 24, 2008)