A China lançou três astronautas para sua estação espacial Tiangong neste domingo. Um deles permanecerá por um ano, um recorde para o país, para estudar a fisiologia humana no espaço. A missão ocorre em meio à corrida espacial com os EUA em direção à Lua.
China lança missão Shenzhou-23 com três tripulantes para a estação espacial Tiangong. Um astronauta permanecerá um ano em órbita, inédito para o país, visando estudos para futuras missões lunares e de Marte.
Hong Kong celebrated the launch of the Shenzhou-23 mission, featuring the city's first astronaut, Lai Ka-ying. The crew, including Lai, Zhu Yangzhu, and Zhang Zhiyuan, departed from Jiuquan, Gansu province, heading to the Gobi Desert launch site. Lai, a police superintendent and mother of three, is the fourth Chinese woman in space and the first female payload specialist.
Commander Zhu Yangzhu of the Shenzhou 23 mission expressed confidence in his crew, comparing them to puzzle pieces forming a powerful whole. This mission marks several 'firsts' for China's space program, including the first mission led by a third-batch astronaut and the first year-long stay in orbit.
Zhu Yangzhu, Zhang Zhiyuan, and Li Jiaying have been selected for the Shenzhou 23 crew. Zhu Yangzhu will serve as commander. Li Jiaying is from Hong Kong.
Hong Kong will send its first astronaut, police chief inspector Lai Ka-ying, to the Tiangong space station on the Shenzhou-23 mission. She will be the fourth woman in space for China and will work with two other astronauts.
