Liu Yang, born on January 24, 1980, is a Chinese astronaut who has been making history as the first woman to walk in space. She was selected as one of the three female astronauts for the Shenzhou-13 mission in October 2021.

Born in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, Liu graduated from Peking University with a degree in aerospace engineering and joined the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) after graduation. In 2010, she became the first female graduate engineer at CASC.

In May 2016, Liu was chosen by the China National Space Administration (CNSA) to be part of the Shenzhou-11 manned spacecraft crew. During her time in space, she conducted various experiments and performed several tasks, including conducting experiments related to materials science, microgravity biology research, and medical research.

In September 2017, Liu was selected again to join the Shenzhou-12 mission. This time, she became the first woman to conduct spacewalks outside the Tiangong space station. The spacewalk lasted for about two hours and involved a total of six experiments and tasks.

In April 2021, Liu was chosen once again to join the Shenzhou-13 mission. On June 5, 2021, she became the first Chinese woman to perform a spacewalk outside the Tianhe core module of the Tiangong space station. Her spacewalk lasted for more than four hours and involved performing multiple experiments and tasks.

Liu's achievements have not gone unnoticed. In February 2022, she received the Medal of the Republic, which is the highest civilian honor in China. In addition, she has also received numerous other awards and honors for her contributions to China's space exploration program.

Liu's success as a woman in a male-dominated field such as space travel is a testament to the progress that has been made in women's rights and gender equality in China. As a result of her efforts, Liu has inspired many young girls to pursue careers in STEM fields and break down barriers for future generations of women in science and technology.

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