23rd May 2026 – (Beijing) China’s manned space programme named the three‑person crew for Shenzhou‑23 today and presented them to the media at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre, ahead of lift‑off scheduled for Sunday, 24th May. The line‑up features flight engineer and mission commander Zhu Yangzhu, spacecraft pilot Zhang Zhiyuan, and payload expert Dr. Lai Ka‑ying, who becomes the first astronaut from Hong Kong to fly and the first female payload specialist selected through the Hong Kong–Macao channel.
The appearance marked the first time a crew has combined members from China’s third and fourth astronaut intakes. Officials added that one crewmate is slated to undertake a year‑long stay in orbit, underscoring the mission’s ambition and the maturing operations of China’s space station.
Introducing the team, programme officials noted Zhu’s milestone role as the country’s first flight engineer to serve as commander and the first commander drawn from the third astronaut cohort. Zhu previously flew on Shenzhou‑16. Zhang, also from the third cohort, is a former top‑grade Air Force pilot and will act as spacecraft driver on his maiden spaceflight. Dr Lai, from the fourth cohort, is set for her first mission as payload expert, leading a portfolio of space‑based experiments and applied research aboard the station.
Dr. Lai Ka-ying expressed heartfelt gratitude for the outpouring of support, saying that as an ordinary Hong Kong citizen, the opportunity to join the national astronaut corps and be selected for the Shenzhou 23 mission was beyond anything she had once imagined. She described the appointment as both an immense honour and a weighty responsibility. Lai thanked the country for providing a platform on which she could realise her dream, and conveyed her appreciation to the Hong Kong SAR Government and members of the public for their steadfast encouragement. She acknowledged that the training had been exacting and physically demanding, and said she owed her place on the mission to the rigorous instruction of her astronaut mentors, the quiet dedication of the wider space community and the unwavering support of her family.
She added that she felt privileged to train alongside fellow astronauts of exceptional calibre, noting that the camaraderie, mutual encouragement and shared progress had made the journey especially meaningful. Echoing the mission commander’s remarks, Lai pledged to devote herself fully to the task ahead, fulfil every duty entrusted to her and uphold the responsibilities of an astronaut. She said she was determined to contribute to the nation’s development, meet the expectations of Hong Kong residents and justify the confidence placed in her by the country.
Hong Kong’s participation took centre stage at the briefing. Dr Lai was born and educated in the city and holds a doctorate in computer forensics. A Superintendent in the Hong Kong Police Force, she was selected in 2024 as a payload expert after the nationwide recruitment launched in 2022. Her duties on orbit will focus on operating scientific payloads and advancing technology demonstrations.
Hong Kong officials hailed the announcement. Chief Executive John Lee said the city is seizing a “historic moment” as a Hong Kong specialist joins a national crew for the first time, reflecting strong support from the central authorities and recognition of the city’s innovation‑and‑technology strengths. The Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, is leading a delegation to Jiuquan to attend the send‑off and witness the launch.
Biographical highlights released at the event set out the crew’s credentials. Zhu Yangzhu, born in 1986 in Jiangsu and a former associate professor at the Space Engineering University, joined the third astronaut cohort in 2020 and was awarded national honours after Shenzhou‑16. Zhang Zhiyuan, also born in 1986 and hailing from Baiyin, Gansu, is an Air Force colonel and veteran fighter pilot selected as a pilot in 2020. Dr Lai, born in Hong Kong in 1982 with ancestral roots in Shunde, Guangdong, joined the fourth cohort in 2024 as a payload expert.