17.05.2026

China prepares to launch Shenzhou-23 crewed spaceship

his photo taken on May 16, 2026 shows the combination of the Shenzhou-23 crewed spaceship and a Long March-2F carrier rocket being transferred to the launching area. (Photo by Wang Jiangbo/Xinhua)

The Shenzhou-23 crewed spaceship will be launched at an appropriate time in the near future, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) said on Saturday.

The combination of the spaceship and a Long March-2F carrier rocket has been transferred to the launching area, according to the CMSA.

All facilities and equipment at the launch site are in good condition. Various pre-launch function checks and joint tests will be carried out as planned.

Quelle: Xinhua

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Update: 24.05,2026

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China upgrades Shenzhou-23 spaceship porthole protection against space debris

The Shenzhou-23 crewed spaceship, set for launch on Sunday, has been adaptively improved with enhanced porthole protection against space debris, boosting its resilience to such threats, the China Manned Space Agency announced at a press conference on Saturday.

The improvement was made after the Shenzhou-20 spaceship's return capsule viewport window suffered a suspected impact from space debris during its mission.

According to Zhang Jingbo, spokesperson of the agency, China's first-ever emergency launch mission in its manned space program history, carried out late last year, was completed within just 20 days, offering valuable practical experience for future missions.

The three Shenzhou-20 astronauts returned safely aboard the Shenzhou-21 spacecraft on Nov. 14, 2025. On Nov. 25, China launched the Shenzhou-22 spaceship to provide a return vessel for the three Shenzhou-21 astronauts, who are currently in orbit.

The return capsule of the Shenzhou-20 spaceship, carrying no astronauts, touched down safely at a landing site in north China on Jan. 19 this year.

Zhang said this mission fully validated the "rolling backup" strategy, with one combination of a spaceship and rocket assigned for launch and another combination designated as backup for each mission.

Facing unexpected contingencies, resources were quickly mobilized, crew return and emergency launch plans formulated, and the astronauts successfully brought back while the backup spaceship docked with the space station, proving the strategy's effectiveness for long-term space station operations and offering a model for international emergency response, Zhang said.

The mission also provided a deeper understanding of space debris risks and orbital protection requirements, Zhang added.

Quelle: Xinhua

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First astronaut from Hong Kong to embark on Chinese spaceflight mission

Li Jiaying, or Lai Ka-ying in Cantonese, is about to make history as the first astronaut from China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) to travel to space, having been selected on Saturday as a payload specialist for the upcoming Shenzhou-23 spaceflight mission.

Li, who holds a PhD in computer forensics and previously served in the Hong Kong Police Force, will join mission commander Zhu Yangzhu and spacecraft pilot Zhang Zhiyuan for the flight, which is scheduled to be launched on Sunday night.

Li will be mainly responsible for operating space science experiment equipment aboard the Tiangong space station, said Zhang Jingbo, spokesperson of the China Manned Space Agency, at a press conference on Saturday morning.

During her public debut as an astronaut later on Saturday, Li expressed her gratitude to the country for providing her with a platform to realize her dreams and to the HKSAR government and its residents for their unwavering support.

"Right now, my heart is filled with gratitude and a deep sense of honor. I also feel the great responsibility that comes with this mission," she said, "I will give my absolute best to complete all tasks."

"I will not let the people of Hong Kong down, and even more so, I will not fail the trust placed in me by the motherland," she added, vowing to serve as a bridge for the space endeavors of Hong Kong, Macao and the mainland.

Li, born in November 1982 in Hong Kong, passed the flight qualification assessment with outstanding results. "She is currently in good overall condition and demonstrates strong crew coordination," said Zhang Jingbo.

"We're happy to see Hong Kong's scientific community increasingly integrated into the national space program in recent years," Zhang noted.

"Under the framework of 'one country, two systems,' Hong Kong is expected to leverage its international advantages to further gather and cultivate high-end scientific and technological talents, contributing to the advancement of the country's manned space program," he added.

John Lee, chief executive of the HKSAR, on Saturday congratulated Li on becoming one of the country's fourth batch of astronauts.

"The HKSAR is embracing a historic moment in the pursuit of its aerospace dream. We are deeply inspired by this moment of extraordinary significance, where a Hong Kong specialist takes part in the spaceflight mission as an astronaut for the first time," Lee said in a press release.

"I express my heartfelt gratitude to the country for providing the HKSAR's technology talent with this valuable opportunity to take part in the aerospace endeavors of the country," he stated, adding that it is not only an affirmation of Li's own capability, but also a testimony to the country's high recognition of Hong Kong's innovation and technology talent, development and achievements.

When Li finally lifts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, she will follow in the footsteps of female astronauts Liu Yang, Wang Yaping and Wang Haoze, becoming China's fourth female astronaut to reach space.

Described by the mission commander as "a resilient and meticulous team player," Li completed her transition from police officer to astronaut in roughly two years.

Li has completed over 200 training tasks across eight major categories, accumulating more than 1,700 training hours since she finally joined China's astronaut team in August 2024, according to Zhang.

She completed rigorous training in space science research and technology experiments, space station combination management, as well as operations of manned spacecraft and robotic arms, meeting all flight mission requirements, Zhang said.

"The training along the way has been truly challenging and at times extremely hard. Standing here today, I owe it to the thorough instruction of my astronaut teachers, the selfless dedication of everyone in the space program, and the unconditional support of my family," said Li, a mother of three children.

Talking about her upcoming space journey, Li was full of excitement. She said that she looked forward to viewing the blue planet from space and made a promise to work hard on a special mission in orbit.

"Many people have asked me to take good photos of Hong Kong from above. I will keep that in mind," Li said.

Quelle: Xinhua

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China to launch Shenzhou-23 crewed spaceship on May 24

China's Shenzhou-23 crewed spaceship is scheduled to be launched at 11:08 p.m. on Sunday (Beijing Time) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) announced on Saturday.

A Long March-2F carrier rocket, which will be used for this launch, will later be filled with propellant, said Zhang Jingbo, the CMSA spokesperson, at a press conference.

Shenzhou-23 is the seventh crewed mission of the application and development stage of China's space station, and the 40th flight mission of China's manned space program.

After entering orbit, the Shenzhou-23 crewed spaceship will adopt a fast automated rendezvous and docking mode and dock with the radial port of the Tianhe core module, forming a three-spacecraft and three-module combination, Zhang said.

Currently, the quality of both spaceship and rocket is under control, the astronaut crew is in good health, the ground-system facilities and equipment are operating stably, and the space station combination is in normal condition, meeting all the necessary conditions for carrying out the upcoming launch mission.

The Shenzhou-21 crew will return to the Dongfeng landing site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region after completing the in-orbit handover with the Shenzhou-23 crew, the spokesperson added.

Quelle: Xinhua

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Astronauts of China's Shenzhou-23 mission meet press

Chinese astronauts Zhu Yangzhu (C), Zhang Zhiyuan (R) and Li Jiaying, or Lai Ka-ying in Cantonese, for the upcoming Shenzhou-23 crewed spaceflight mission, meet the press at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, May 23, 2026. (Xinhua/Cai Yang)

Chinese astronauts Zhu Yangzhu, Zhang Zhiyuan and Li Jiaying, or Lai Ka-ying in Cantonese, for the upcoming Shenzhou-23 spaceflight mission, met the press on Saturday.

The Shenzhou-23 crewed spaceship is scheduled to be launched at 11:08 p.m. Sunday (Beijing Time) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, the China Manned Space Agency announced at a press conference earlier on Saturday.

Quelle: Xinhua

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Update: 24.05.2026 / 20:00 MESZ

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