China launches Shenzhou 23 with first Hong Kong-born astronaut on record yearlong space mission

China launched the Shenzhou 23 spacecraft on May 24, 2026, from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, carrying three astronauts to its Tiangong space station. Among the crew is Lai Ka-ying, born and raised in Hong Kong with a doctoral degree in computer forensics, becoming the first astronaut from the city to fly in space. One crew member is scheduled to remain aboard the station for a full year to 'explore human adaptability and performance limits' in long-duration spaceflight, as China targets a crewed lunar landing by 2030.