Shenzhou-23 mission to Tiangong to include first Hong Kong astronaut, CMSA says

China is set to send the Shenzhou-23 crewed mission to the Tiangong space station on Sunday. The flight is expected to be China’s first manned space mission with a Hong Kong astronaut. China Manned Space Agency officials confirmed the plan on Saturday. The launch will mark a new step in China’s regular crew rotation programme.

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The agency said Chinese astronauts Zhu Yangzhu and Zhang Zhiyuan will fly with Hong Kong’s Li Jiaying. Li Jiaying is the first orbital traveller from Hong Kong. The mission is due to lift off at 11:08 pm on Sunday, Beijing Time. It will launch from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China.

Tiangong space station mission launch and crew plans

Zhang Jingbo of CMSA said the Shenzhou-23 crewed spaceship will depart on the stated schedule. China normally changes the Tiangong space station crew every six months. This time, a spokesperson said one incoming crew member may remain for a year. The longer stay aims to study health effects and improve in-orbit medical support.

The present Shenzhou crew has already stayed in orbit for more than 200 days. Officials said the mission is on track to pass the previous record. The last crew returned to Earth after 204 days. The agency did not name the current crew in the briefing. The update focused on the handover timeline.

Tiangong space station research work on Shenzhou-23

CMSA said the Shenzhou-23 crew will carry out more than 100 new scientific studies. The planned work includes zebrafish and mice experiments. It also includes research using artificial embryos. Officials said these projects aim to understand reproduction in space. The tasks will be done during the crew’s time on Tiangong.

Tiangong space station role for Hong Kong astronaut and future flights

The selection of Li Jiaying comes years after Hong Kong returned to China on July 1, 1997. The handover from the UK included commitments under a one country, two systems agreement. Certain rights were supposed to be guaranteed for at least 50 years. The mission adds a new dimension to Hong Kong’s participation in national programmes.

After the Hong Kong astronaut flies, China plans to send a Pakistani national to Tiangong. Officials said two selected candidates from Pakistan are now in training. The agency did not share a date for that mission. The plan fits China’s wider approach to expanding international participation. Training updates were provided without extra operational details.

Tiangong space station expansion and ISS phase-out timeline

Earlier this month, Chinese space officials said work is under way to expand the low-earth orbiting space station. They said the upgrade could more than double its size. The comments came as the rival International Space Station is set to be phased out by 2031. China operationalised its space station in 2022.

At present, Tiangong and the ISS are both in orbit. The ISS is a joint project involving NASA and agencies from Russia, Europe, Japan and Canada. Officials noted that once the ISS phases out, China’s space station may be the only one of its kind in orbit. The Shenzhou-23 launch will be the next step in that programme.

With inputs from PTI