Shenzhou-23 Crew Revealed: Hong Kong Astronaut Li Jiaying Set for First Spaceflight to China's Station
Summary: On May 23, 2026, China unveiled the crew for the Shenzhou-23 manned spaceflight mission at the Wentian Hall of the Beijing Aerospace City. Commander Ye Guangfu, a veteran from the second batch of Chinese astronauts, leads the crew. The 03 astronaut is Li Jiaying, a payload specialist from Hong Kong, who will become China's first astronaut from Hong Kong and the fourth Chinese woman in space. The mission is targeted to launch on May 24 at 23:08 BJT (15:08 UTC) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.
Sources (original pages)
- Tencent News: Shenzhou-23 Crew Debuts Today (May 23, 2026)
- NetEase: CCTV Reveals Hong Kong Astronaut to Board Shenzhou-23 (May 23, 2026)
- Tencent News: Shenzhou-23 Launch Date Confirmed (May 23, 2026)
Crew Composition
According to CCTV and multiple media reports, the Shenzhou-23 crew follows the established "veteran帶新人" (veteran-led) crew composition model:
- Commander (01): Ye Guangfu — A veteran from China's second astronaut cohort who previously flew on Shenzhou-13. He brings extensive spaceflight experience to the command role.
- 02 Astronaut: A third-batch astronaut, name to be officially announced at the crew reveal ceremony.
- 03 Astronaut: Li Jiaying — A payload specialist from China's fourth astronaut cohort, hailing from Hong Kong. She previously served as a Chief Inspector with the Hong Kong Police Force and holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Hong Kong. She will become China's first astronaut from Hong Kong and the fourth Chinese woman in space.
Li Jiaying: From Hong Kong Police Chief Inspector to Payload Specialist
Born in Hong Kong, Li Jiaying earned her Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Hong Kong in 2011. She joined the Hong Kong Police Force in 2012 as an Inspector, specializing in information technology support, and later rose to the rank of Chief Inspector.
In September 2022, China initiated the selection process for the fourth batch of reserve astronauts, targeting 12 to 14 candidates including payload specialists from Hong Kong and Macau regions. In May 2024, the fourth astronaut cohort completed selection, with Li Jiaying among the chosen. She formally joined training in August 2024.
As a payload specialist, Li Jiaying will be responsible for conducting scientific experiments and technical tests aboard the space station. Compared to astronaut pilots, payload specialists require a shorter training cycle — which explains why she can execute a flight mission less than two years after enlisting.
One-Year Residency: A New Record for China's Space Program
A major highlight of the Shenzhou-23 mission is that one crew member will conduct an extended in-orbit residency exceeding one year. After completing approximately six months of orbital work, this astronaut will remain aboard the station instead of returning with the Shenzhou-23 spacecraft, waiting instead for the Shenzhou-24 crew to relieve them. They will ultimately return to Earth aboard Shenzhou-24.
The one-year residency will enable researchers to conduct in-depth studies on the effects of long-term microgravity on the human body, gathering critical data for future crewed lunar and deep-space exploration missions.
Launch Timeline and Preparations
According to multiple sources, the Shenzhou-23 spacecraft is targeted to launch at 23:08 BJT (15:08 UTC) on May 24 from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. The launch window spans approximately 40 minutes.
The spacecraft and Long March 2F/YZ-23 carrier rocket composite was transferred to the launch area on May 16. On May 22, a full-system joint rehearsal (covering the primary launch area, flight corridor, and emergency return zone) was successfully conducted, with all systems completing functional checks.
Shenzhou-22: Returning Soon
Following the launch of Shenzhou-23, the Shenzhou-21 crew will return to Earth aboard Shenzhou-22 between 19:49 and 20:21 BJT on May 29, landing at the Dongfeng landing field.