Hong Kong’s first astronaut lifts off into space on Shenzhou-23 mission

China Launches First Hong Kong Astronaut Into Space

China launched Shenzhou-23 carrying the first Hong Kong astronaut, payload specialist Lai Ka-ying (PhD computer science, former IT security), alongside two crewmates aboard a Long March 2F rocket from Jiuquan. The mission signals China's accelerating crewed space program — over 100 science projects, a 1-year human research study, Pakistani astronaut training underway, and a crewed lunar landing targeted before 2030.