Lai Ka-ying says sheer willpower helped her pass parts of the gruelling selection process for China’s Shenzhou-23 mission.

The former police officer will become China’s fourth woman in space, taking part in the Shenzhou-23 mission as a payload specialist.

Lai is meticulous and skilled in explaining complex ideas to others, says academic who guided her through her postgraduate studies.

Lai Ka-ying says sheer willpower helped her pass parts of the gruelling selection process for China’s Shenzhou-23 mission.

The Shenzhou-23 mission is a message to the next generation that space is within reach and that all Hongkongers belong in the orbit of scientific endeavour.