China Launches Shenzhou-23 With First Year-Long Mission
One astronaut will stay aboard Tiangong for a year as China studies microgravity effects and prepares for future lunar missions.
- China launched the Shenzhou-23 mission on May 24, 2026, sending three astronauts, including Hong Kong's first astronaut Lai Ka-ying, to the Tiangong space station for a year-long mission.
- One astronaut will remain in orbit for a full year to study the effects of long-duration spaceflight on human physiology.
- The mission includes scientific experiments in life sciences, materials science, fluid physics, and medicine, aiming to build experience for sustained space station occupation and future lunar exploration.
- China aims to establish a permanent lunar base by 2035 and use the mission's experience to support crewed Moon landing ambitions by 2030.
243 Articles
243 Articles
China launched the Shenzhou-23 spacecraft with three Tykonavts aboard to the national orbital station Tiangun.
China has sent three new taikonauts to the Chinese space station Tiangong. One of them will stay there for a year, a record for a Chinese astronaut. The aim is to investigate the effects of a prolonged stay in space on the body. This is important in view of a moon landing in 2030.
Shenzhou-23 astronauts enter Tiangong space station, taking group pictures with Shenzhou-21 crew for the eighth space get-together in China's aerospace history
The three astronauts aboard China's Shenzhou-23 spaceship have entered the Tiangong space station and met with another astronaut trio on Monday, starting a new round of in-orbit crew handover, according to Xinhua. The two crews then took group pictures for the eighth space get-together in China's aerospace history.
China sends astronaut on year-long space mission as it eyes 2030 moon landing
China sent three astronauts to its space station on Sunday, one of whom will stay for a year, a record length for the country, enabling the study of long-duration human physiology in space as Beijing works towards its ambition of a crewed moon landing by 2030.
Shenzhou-23 crew enters Tiangong space station, takes 'family photo' with Shenzhou-21 astronauts
The Shenzhou-23 crew, including Hong Kong's first astronaut Lai Ka-ying, successfully docked with the Tianhe core module of the Tiangong space station at 2.45am on Monday, about 3.5 hours after launch, the China Manned Space Agency announced.
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