China launches Shenzhou 23 spacecraft with 1 of 3 astronauts set for yearlong stay

Shenzhou 23 launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China with three astronauts bound for the Tiangong space station. The crew includes commander Zhu Yangzhu, Zhang Zhiyuan, and Lai Ka-ying, identified by Chinese authorities as Li Jiaying. Lai is from Hong Kong and has a doctoral degree in computer forensics. One astronaut is scheduled to remain in orbit for a year, aiming to explore human adaptability and performance limits during long-duration spaceflight. The mission will carry out dozens of science and application projects and complete an in-orbit rotation with the Shenzhou 21 crew, which has been on the station for more than 200 days. China is also preparing for its first crewed lunar landing by 2030.

"China launched the Shenzhou 23 spacecraft Sunday night with three astronauts heading to its space station, including one set to stay in space for a year. The spacecraft blasted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China. The much-anticipated launch comes as China prepares for its first crewed lunar landing by 2030."

"The astronauts on the mission are Zhu Yangzhu, the commander, Zhang Zhiyuan and Lai Ka-ying, also identified by Chinese authorities as Li Jiaying using the Mandarin transliteration of her name. Lai, who was born and raised in Hong Kong and has a doctoral degree in computer forensics, is the first astronaut from the city on a space mission."

"One of the three astronauts on the Shenzhou 23 mission is scheduled to stay at the orbiting space station for a year in what would be among the world's longest single stays in space. The astronaut's mission is to "explore human adaptability and performance limits" in long-duration spaceflight environments, state media reported."

"They are also expected to complete an in-orbit rotation with the crew of Shenzhou 21, who has been at the Tiangong space station for more than 200 days. The crew is set to conduct dozens of science and application projects, state media said."

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