Singled out

If you can handle kids, you can handle outer space. That seems to be the message coming from the people behind China’s space programme. According to the Shanghai Daily, the country has selected its first two female ‘taikoonauts’ (the Chinese term for astronaut). Both are pilots with the military’s air force, and were chosen from 15 female candidates. How? General Zhang Jiangqi told the newspaper: “In the selection we had almost the same requirements for women candidates as men, the only difference being that they must be married with children.” Zhang elaborated: “We believe married women with children to be more physically and psychologically mature.” He added that “theoretically” such women are capable of greater endurance and circumspection than even male astronauts.

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