Profile of the Shenzhou XX crew

Senior Colonel Chen Dong, 46, a native of Henan province, joined the People's Liberation Army Air Force in August 1997. He served as a squadron commander of a fighter jet regiment until May 2010, when he was recruited by the PLA Astronaut Division as one of the nation's second-generation astronauts.

In October 2016, Chen took part in the 33-day Shenzhou XI mission. In June 2022, he participated in the six-month Shenzhou XIV mission as crew commander. Chen is a recipient of the honorary title "Heroic Astronaut" and two Space Service Medals.

Chen, a first-grade astronaut, is commander of the PLA Astronaut Division. He is the mission commander of Shenzhou XX.

Colonel Chen Zhongrui, 40, a native of Henan province, joined the PLA Air Force in September 2003. He was selected as one of the nation's third-generation astronauts in September 2020, after serving several years at a flight training brigade.

He is deputy commander of the PLA Astronaut Division and a fourth-grade astronaut.

Colonel Wang Jie, 35, a native of the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, was recruited as one of the nation's third-generation astronauts in September 2020 and joined the PLA Astronaut Division in January 2021.

Before being recruited by the military, he was an engineer at the China Academy of Space Technology of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp.

Wang has a doctoral degree from Beihang University in Beijing. He is now a fourth-grade astronaut.