China launched the Shenzhou-23 mission aboard a Long March 2F rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China

China launched the Shenzhou-23 mission aboard a Long March 2F rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China

¨     China launched the Shenzhou-23 mission aboard a Long March 2F rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China.

¨     The mission carried a three-member astronaut crew.

¨     The Shenzhou-23 spacecraft successfully docked with the Tiangong space station about 3.5 hours after launch on 25 May 2026.

¨     The crew includes space engineer Zhu Yangzhu, former Air Force pilot Zhang Ziyuan, and former Hong Kong police officer Lai Ka-ying.

¨     Lai Ka-ying became the first astronaut from Hong Kong to travel into space.

¨     The mission aims to support scientific research and station operations aboard Tiangong.

¨     Tiangong is China’s modular space station.

¨     It serves as a major platform for long-duration human spaceflight and scientific research.

¨     Under the Shenzhou-23 mission, one astronaut is scheduled to remain aboard the station for about one year.

¨     The objective is to study the effects of long-term microgravity on the human body.

¨     The mission includes experiments in life sciences, material sciences, fluid physics, and medicine.

¨     China has set a goal of landing humans on the Moon by 2030.

¨     The programme includes the Mengzhou spacecraft.

¨     Mengzhou is planned for an orbital test flight in 2026.

¨     It is being developed to replace the Shenzhou line for future lunar missions.

¨     China also plans to establish the first phase of the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) by 2035.