HK astronaut Lai Ka-ying makes history in Shenzhou-23 launch
發佈日期: 2026-05-25 00:21
TVB News
Marking a historic first for the city, Hong Kong-born astronaut Lai Ka-ying blasted into space aboard Shenzhou-23 as the spacecraft lifted off at 11:08 Sunday from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.
Multiple Hong Kong students and youth representatives travelled to the launch center to cheer on
our "Hong Kong-made" astronaut.
After months of anticipation, Hong Kong's space dream has finally lifted off.
The combination of the Shenzhou-23 crewed spaceship and a Long March-2F carrier rocket blasted into the night sky -- piercing through the darkness above the desert while carrying the first ever Hong Kong-born astronaut Lai Ka-ying, who also marks China's first female payload specialist.
The escape tower, boosters and fairing separated one by one before the spaceship entered its orbit.
Seated inside the capsule, Lai is on the right side of the screen with commander Zhu Yangzhu and engineer Zhang Zhiyuan.
High above Earth, the Shenzhou-21 crew on the Chinese space station watched the launch live -- preparing for an orbital "shift change" as the two crews meet in space.
During their stay, the Shenzhou-23 team will carry out more than a hundred space science experiments including the carbon emission detection camera: the Multi Spectral Imaging Carbon Observatory or MUSICO developed by Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.
The mission will see one astronaut remain in space for a full year for the first time.
Earlier, emotions ran high at the send off ceremony at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center as well.
Cheering the astronauts on was the SAR delegation led by Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Sun Dong.
Before boarding the spaceship, Lai high-fived her teammates -- before flashing a heart sign to cameras.
An HKU student at the site says she admires all the effort Lai put in behind the scenes.
This Hongkonger says being able to cheer her on in Cantonese makes them feel emotional, adding she hopes that more women in Hong Kong can also become a source of pride like her.
Under Secretary for Security Michael Cheuk said our Hong Kong-born astronaut is expected to ignite a new generation of cosmic ambitions.
He says space may feel very far away but if you dare to dream, there is a chance.
