First Hong Kong astronaut to join Shenzhou XXIII space mission

The Shenzhou XXIII crew is tasked with operating and maintaining the Tiangong space station, conducting scientific and technological experiments, carrying out spacewalks to install and retrieve equipment, and taking part in educational activities. Their journey will mark China's 17th manned spaceflight and the 11th crewed mission to the Tiangong station.

The Chinese space station is currently occupied by the Shenzhou XXI crew — mission commander Senior Colonel Zhang Lu, spaceflight engineer Major Wu Fei and payload specialist Zhang Hongzhang — who arrived on Nov 1 and are scheduled to return around the end of this month.