China's Manned Space Agency reports smooth progress on its crewed lunar exploration program, emphasizing peaceful use of space and no competition with other nations.
China launched the Shenzhou-23 spacecraft atop a Long March-2F rocket from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre. The mission, commanded by Zhu Yangzhu, aims for space exploration, with a Hong Kong government delegation attending the send-off.
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.
China has selected Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud as Pakistan's first astronauts to train for a mission to China's Tiangong space station this year. The China Manned Space Agency announced the astronauts will soon arrive in China for training, calling it a milestone in international cooperation and a demonstration of China's commitment to sharing its space development with the international community.
