What specific term is used for the Chinese astronauts aboard the Tiangong space station?
Answer
taikonauts
The personnel who crew the Tiangong space station, who are Chinese nationals engaged in long-duration orbital missions, are referred to specifically as taikonauts. The standard operational crew size for these six-month missions is typically three taikonauts. While crew rotations allow for temporary overlaps, reaching a total of six aboard during handover periods like the transition between Shenzhou 14 and Shenzhou 15 crews, the designation remains constant for the Chinese space travelers.
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