Taikonauts are astronauts from China who participate in space missions. The term combines "taikong," meaning space in Mandarin, and "naut," derived from the Greek word for sailor. They are trained to operate spacecraft, conduct scientific research, and perform spacewalks. The China National Space Administration (CNSA) is responsible for selecting and training taikonauts. Since the first crewed mission in 2003, taikonauts have contributed to various projects, including the construction of the Tiangong space station. Their work helps advance China's space exploration goals and international collaboration in space science.