Yi So-yeon
Yi So-yeon | |
|---|---|
| File:200832010514566440.jpg | |
| Nationality | South Korean |
| Occupation | Student |
| Space career | |
| KAP Astronaut | |
| Selection | 2006 South Korean program |
| Missions | None |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 이소연 |
|---|---|
| Hanja | 李素姸 |
| Revised Romanization | I Soyeon |
| McCune–Reischauer | I So-yŏn |
Yi So-yeon (2 June 1978 in Gwangju) is a KAIST Ph. D student. She is scheduled to be the 1st Korean in space and the 2nd asian woman in space.
Biography
Yi studied at Gwangju Science High School and majored in mechanics at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology in Daejeon. She obtained her bachelor’s and master’s degrees and is now working there as a doctorate researcher in biotech systems.
Her doctorate was conferred on 29 February 2008, at KAIST although she was unable to be present due to her training commitments in Russia. At the time of her selection, she was 28 and unmarried.
Yi is an advanced practitioner of taekwondo.[1]
Korean Astronaut Program
Yi was one of the two finalists in the Korean Astronaut Program, selected on 25 December 2006, in line to become the first South Korean in space, set to fly on board Soyuz TMA-12 in April 2008.
On 5 September 2007, the Korean Ministry of Science and Technology choose Ko San, over Yi So-yeon, following performance and other tests during their training in Russia.[2][3]
On 7 March 2008, she was promoted to train with the primary crew, and on 10 March the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology announced that Yi would replace Ko. This was after the Russian Federal Space Agency reportedly asked for a replacement because Ko violated regulations at a Russian training centre.[4] If Yi flies in April she will become the first Korean in space.[5] She will also be the second Asian woman in space after Chiaki Mukai from Japan and she makes South Korea the second country to have a woman as its first space traveller, after the United Kingdom.
Terminology
Flying as a guest of the Russian government through a commerical agreement with South Korea, Yi's role aboard Soyuz and the ISS is referred to as a spaceflight participant in English-language Russian Federal Space Agency and NASA documents and press briefings.[6]
See also
References
- ^ "Yi to boost women's self-esteem". Korea.net. 2006-12-27. Retrieved 2008-03-10.
- ^ Associated Press (2007-09-04). "South Korea to announce its first astronaut". International Herald Tribune. Retrieved 2008-03-10.
- ^ Yoon, Sangwon (2007-09-04). "South Korea taps robotics expert as 1st astronaut". Houston Chronical. Retrieved 2008-03-10.
- ^ Associated Press (2008-03-10). "S. Korea names woman as first astronaut". CNN.com. Retrieved 2008-03-10.
- ^ "1st Korean Astronaut Could Be a Woman". Dong-A Ilbo. 2008-03-10. Retrieved 2008-03-10.
- ^ [1]