China reveals 3-person Shenzhou 23 crew, including Hong Kong’s 1st astronaut

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China has named the three astronauts who will participate in the Shenzhou 23 mission on Sunday May 24, including the first astronaut from Hong Kong.

A Long walk The 2F rocket is scheduled to lift off at 11:08 a.m. EDT (3:08 p.m. GMT or 11:08 p.m. Beijing time) on Sunday (May 24) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Gobi Desert, sending the Shenzhou 23 spacecraft into orbit to dock with the Chinese satellite. Tiangong Space Station In low earth orbit.

On board the Shenzhou 23 will be Commander Zhu Yangzhu, Pilot Zhang Zhiyuan and Payload Specialist Lai Ka-ying. Zhu first flew the Shenzhou 16 mission in 2023, while Zhang and Lai, from China third And fourth groups of astronauts will make their first trip into space. The crew was revealed at a press conference in Jiuquan on Saturday (May 23).

Lai is set to become the first Hong Kong astronaut to fly into space, having previously worked in the Hong Kong police before being selected as an astronaut candidate in 2024.

Another major mission first will see a Shenzhou 23 astronaut complete the first continuous year in China’s orbit. The astronaut was not named, but a representative from China’s Human Space Mission Agency said the pilot and payload specialist are capable of fulfilling each other’s roles, suggesting one will stay a full year in space.

An astronaut’s extended stay will pave the way for another first for the Shenzhou 24 mission, scheduled to launch in six months. On board will be a Pakistani astronautwho will spend a few days aboard Tiangong before returning to Earth aboard the departing Shenzhou 23 vehicle, taking the seat of the astronaut selected to stay a full year in orbit.

Hours after launch, the Shenzhou 23 crew will be welcomed aboard Tiangong by Shenzhou 21 astronauts Zhang Lu, Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang, who are completing a seven-month extended mission and will return to Earth at the end of the month.

Shenzhou 23 also has reinforced protection for its portholes, in response to Shame At Shenzhou 20 spacecraft window due to suspected debris impact. The incident triggered an emergency response, seeing the Shenzhou 20 crew return to Earth aboard the Shenzhou 21 spacecraft for safety reasons, and the non-crew Shenzhou 22 launched to serve as a lifeboat to bring the crew of the Shenzhou 21 home.

The Shenzhou 23 mission follows shortly after the launch of Tianzhou 10 cargo spacecraft, arrived in Tiangong on May 11, delivering nearly 7 tons of supplies. The Shenzhou 21 crew will return to Earth on May 29, after handing over control of Tiangong to the new Shenzhou 23 astronauts.