Nie Haisheng
Nie Haisheng (born 13 October 1964) is a major general of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Strategic Support Force (PLASSF) in active service as an taikonaut and the third commander (unit chief) of the PLA Astronaut Corps (PLAAC). He was a PLA Air Force fighter pilot and director of navigation. Nie flew on Shenzhou 6 and served as commander on both the Shenzhou 10 and Shenzhou 12 missions, the latter of which became the first crew to visit the Tiangong space station. In 2021, with a combined 111 days in space, he set a new record for longest stay in space by a Chinese astronaut, becoming the first to exceed 100 days and is one of only two Chinese astronauts to have flown three times. Early life Nie was born on 08 September 1964 in Yangdang Town of Zaoyang County, Xiangyang City, Hubei Province. After graduating from high school he joined the People's Liberation Army Air Force in June 1983, and became a fighter pilot. He trained at the PLAAF's No. 7 Flying School and graduated in 1987. Air Force career On 12 June 1989 while flying at 13,000 feet (4000 m) his plane suffered an explosion and he lost