On May 29, ahead of the 10th National Science and Technology Workers Day, the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the China Association for Science and Technology jointly announced "the Most Beautiful Sci-tech Workers" of 2026. Professor Gui Haichao from the School of Astronautics at Beihang University was selected, becoming the first Beihang faculty member to receive this honor.

Gui Haichao, professor and doctoral supervisor at the School of Astronautics, has been recognized as a National Young Talent. He is a member of China's third batch of astronauts, serving as a payload specialist, and participated in the Shenzhou XVI manned spaceflight mission in 2023. In April 2024, he was awarded the honorary title of "Heroic Astronaut" and received a third-class Space Service Medal.

Growing up among the mountains of Shidian, Baoshan, Yunnan Province, Gui was a diligent student from an early age. After being admitted to Beihang University, he completed his bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees within just nine years, becoming a Beihang professor and doctoral supervisor at the age of 31. In 2018, Gui stood out from around 2,300 candidates when China launched the selection of its third batch of astronauts, opening the payload specialist category for the first time.

After successfully completing his space mission, he soon returned to campus, setting a new goal to cultivate more talent for China's manned space program.

From a small town in western Yunnan to the vast Tiangong space station, from the classroom podium to the sea of stars, Professor Gui Haichao chases his dreams with passion and stays true to his original aspiration through down-to-earth efforts. Reaching for the stars while keeping his feet firmly on the ground — this embodies the spirit of science and technology workers, as well as the unwavering belief of all Beihang members. 

Editor: Liu Tingting