Trainee realizes a dream
Harboring a dream to one day explore the ocean depths, 23- year- old Zhao Shengya became the country’s first and youngest female oceanaut trainee on Tuesday.
Zhao, born in Anyang, a city in Henan province, always believed she had an “indispensable connection” with the ocean since she attended Dalian Maritime University in Liaoning province in 2008.
“I am confident I can handle the job and prove that gender and age are no barriers to becoming an oceanaut,” she said.
During trials for seasickness in late October, Zhao experienced her first four-hour mission at sea and enjoyed the voyage without any discomfort.
“My only worry about becoming an oceanaut was whether I would get seasick, and now I know I’m in the clear,” she said.
In late October, Zhao underwent a week of trials including 119 examinations testing her physical and mental ability as well as knowledge of mechanical engineering and oceanography.
She was up against more than 200 applicants for the six new spots on China’s team of oceanauts.
Zhao will become a pilot for Jiaolong, the country’s deep-sea submersible, in dive projects in 2016.
The submersible can hold three people — one pilot and two scientists — for deep-sea trips.
During a dive, an oceanaut usually operates Jiaolong for 7 to 12 hours, helping scientists to collect samples, like marine life and rocks, and is ready to deal with various extreme situations.
It will be a great challenge physically and mentally, said Fu Wentao, one of the country’s only two oceanauts who participated in Jiaolong’s 7,000-meter dive project in 2012.
Zhao seems unworried about the potential dangers.
“I like challenging jobs, and being an oceanaut is one,” she said.
Zhao Jun, Zhao’s father, said the family is proud of his daughter and will support her oceanaut career.
“My daughter is strong, and I believe she will become a qualified oceanaut,” he said.