Hong Kong celebrates historic Shenzhou-23 space mission launch with first astronaut Lai Ka-ying
Quick Look
- Hong Kong erupted in cheers Sunday night as Lai Ka-ying, the city's first astronaut, launched into space aboard the Shenzhou-23 mission.
- Lai, a police superintendent and mother of three, is the fourth Chinese woman and first female payload specialist to go into space.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The Shenzhou-23 space mission, featuring Hong Kong's first astronaut Lai Ka-ying, successfully launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre. Lai, a police superintendent and mother of three, is the fourth Chinese woman and first female payload specialist to go into space. Celebrations erupted in Hong Kong and across the Gobi Desert region.
An electric atmosphere swept from the edge of the Gobi Desert all the way back to Hong Kong on Sunday night, as thrilled residents erupted into cheers to celebrate the historic launch of the Shenzhou-23 space mission featuring the city’s first astronaut, Lai Ka-ying.
Lai, a police superintendent and a mother of three, is serving as the payload specialist for the mission.
At a Wong Chuk Hang student dorm of the University of Hong Kong, where Lai, 43, completed her doctoral degree in computer science, more than 50 students, staff and alumni gathered ahead of lift-off to witness the moment.
Chanting university slogans, they waved national and Hong Kong flags, cheering ecstatically when the Long March-2F rocket carrying the Shenzhou-23 spacecraft cleared the launch pad at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwestern mainland China’s Gansu province.
Born and raised in Hong Kong, Lai is the fourth Chinese woman to go into space and the country’s first female payload specialist. The crew of three was expected to take 3½ hours to reach the Tiangong space station.
Among those watching in Hong Kong was Joe Kong Yu-cho, a retired computer forensic scientist who first met Lai in 2012 on a research team. They worked on separate projects but would join meetings to discuss their work.
“Ka-ying is very kind and was willing to help us with our research. Despite being an expert, she was very humble,” Kong said.
Open Questions
- What specific research will Lai Ka-ying conduct as payload specialist?
- What is the duration of the Shenzhou-23 mission?
- What are the specific objectives of the Shenzhou-23 mission?
- What is the composition of the full Shenzhou-23 crew?
