China seeks astronauts without bad breath

Space enthusiasts hoping to become China’s next astronauts must pass ‘super human’ health checks and that means no bad breath. New ‘taikonauts’ must also have brushed their teeth thoroughly over the years as anyone with dental cavities is disqualified.

And even if they are fighting fit, they won’t be selected if there has been serious illness in the last three generations of their family. These are amongst the 100 health requirements for would-be astronauts vying to be part of China’s next space team, according to the Yangtse Evening paper.

The selection process is for the second batch of Chinese astronauts. Those  who have scars, runny noses, ringworm, drug allergies or bad breath will be disqualified. “The bad smell would affect their fellow colleagues in space,” said Shi Bing Bing, an official at health screening hospitals in Nanjing.

Aside from the physical requirements of the job, the candidate must also possess a pleasant and adaptable disposition, the paper said. “These astronauts could be regarded as super human beings,” Shi said.

China became the third country with a successful manned space program after they sent an astronaut into space aboard Shenzhou 5 on October 15, 2003 for more than 21 hours. The Communist country went on to launch its first man to walk in space in September last year. Zhai Zhigang unveiled a small Chinese flag in space.