Story perspectives

China Launches Shenzhou-23, Year-Long Mission, Hong Kong Astronaut

5/24/2026

Summary

China Launches Year-Long Mission

China launched Shenzhou-23 on May 24 2026 at 11:08 p.m. (1508 GMT) from Jiuquan.
The crew includes commander Zhu Yangzhu, pilot Zhang Zhiyuan and payload specialist Lai Ka-ying, Hong Kong’s first astronaut.
Shenzhou-23 will replace the Shenzhou-21 crew, who return on May 29 aboard Shenzhou-22.
One astronaut will stay on Tiangong for a year, China’s first year-long human spaceflight, after Tianzhou-10 delivered nearly seven tons of supplies on May 11 to support a 2030 lunar landing.

Summary

China Trains Astronauts

China has begun training two Pakistani astronauts with its crew for short-term payload flights on Tiangong.
The program includes basic and specialized modules to ready the Pakistani participants for a payload-specialist flight.
China’s space agency says the partnership seeks to make Tiangong more international and to add further foreign partners.
Shenzhou-23 upgrades now include reinforced window protection against space-debris impacts.

Summary

Lai Joins Shenzhou

Lai Ka-ying, a Hong Kong police superintendent with a computer-science doctorate, is confirmed as Shenzhou-23 payload specialist.
The Shenzhou-23 patch features a Bauhinia flower, Feitian apsara, golden Ruyi and rocket imagery to signal Hong Kong.
Fans interpret the Bauhinia and Ruyi symbols as a clue that a Hong Kong woman will fly.
Professor Chow Kam-pui praised Lai’s meticulousness and skill in cryptography and digital forensics, sparking online debate.

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China Launches Year-Long Mission

China launched Shenzhou-23 on May 24 2026 at 11:08 p.m. (1508 GMT) from Jiuquan.
The crew includes commander Zhu Yangzhu, pilot Zhang Zhiyuan and payload specialist Lai Ka-ying, Hong Kong’s first astronaut.
Shenzhou-23 will replace the Shenzhou-21 crew, who return on May 29 aboard Shenzhou-22.
One astronaut will stay on Tiangong for a year, China’s first year-long human spaceflight, after Tianzhou-10 delivered nearly seven tons of supplies on May 11 to support a 2030 lunar landing.

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