CHINA LAUNCHES SHENZHOU 23 MISSION WITH THREE ASTRONAUTS. (PHOTO).

China launches Shenzhou 23 mission with three astronauts

China has launched its Shenzhou 23 mission, sending three astronauts to the Tiangong space station, including one crew member who is expected to remain in orbit for a full year in one of the country’s longest planned space stays.

The spacecraft lifted off Sunday night from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China, marking another step in Beijing’s expanding human spaceflight program as it moves toward its goal of a crewed lunar landing by 2030. The mission comes as China continues to build out its independent space station after being excluded from the International Space Station amid U.S. national security concerns.

The crew consists of mission commander Zhu Yangzhu, astronaut Zhang Zhiyuan, and Lai Ka-ying, also identified by authorities as Li Jiaying. Lai, who was born and raised in Hong Kong and holds a doctorate in computer forensics, becomes the first astronaut from the city to participate in a space mission.

During their stay aboard Tiangong, the astronauts are expected to carry out dozens of scientific and applied research projects, as well as oversee an in-orbit handover with the Shenzhou 21 crew, who have already spent more than 200 days on the station. One member of the Shenzhou 23 team will remain on the station for approximately one year to study human adaptability and performance in extended spaceflight conditions.

China’s Tiangong space station, whose name translates to “Heavenly Palace,” has been continuously crewed since 2021. The Shenzhou program, meaning “Divine Vessel,” has become a cornerstone of China’s space ambitions, including emergency operations in previous missions that safely returned astronauts after spacecraft damage left crews temporarily stranded in orbit.