China Completes 8th "Space Rendezvous" as Lai Ka-ying Becomes First Hong Kong Astronaut to Enter Tiangong Space Station

China’s crewed space program has achieved another historic milestone. At 5:13 AM Beijing Time on May 25, 2026, the Shenzhou-23 astronaut crew successfully entered the Chinese space station, completing a joyful "space rendezvous" with the Shenzhou-21 crew who were already on board.

This marks the 8th cosmic reunion in the history of China’s aerospace program. More importantly, it marks a monumental breakthrough for Hong Kong, as payload specialist Lai Ka-ying successfully entered the Tiangong Space Station, becoming the first-ever Hong Kong astronaut to board China's space station.

According to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA), the Shenzhou-23 crewed spacecraft completed an autonomous rapid rendezvous and docking with the space station combination just over three hours after its launch.

After entering orbit, the spacecraft successfully docked at the radial port of the Tianhe core module at 2:45 AM Hong Kong Time. The entire docking process took approximately three and a half hours. At 5:13 AM, the Shenzhou-21 crew opened the "front door" of their orbital home, warmly welcoming the three incoming Shenzhou-23 astronauts to start their co-occupancy.

As the first representative from Hong Kong to journey into deep space, Lai Ka-ying displayed immense pride and confidence during her departure, smiling at the cameras, pointing to the national flag on her spacesuit, and making a heart gesture.

During her six-month mission in space, Lai is slated to take on a highly symbolic task: operating the "Tianyun Camera," a piece of cutting-edge equipment developed locally in Hong Kong. This milestone achieves the vision of a project "made by Hong Kong and operated by Hong Kong," reflecting the central government's high recognition and trust in Hong Kong’s scientific research capabilities.

The flawless launch and docking of Shenzhou-23 have sparked a wave of pride and excitement across Hong Kong. A Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government delegation traveled to the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Gansu Province to witness the historic moment firsthand.

Professor Sun Dong, the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, expressed immense pride and excitement after witnessing the rocket soar into the sky. He noted that the historic participation of a Hong Kong payload specialist vividly demonstrates how Hong Kong, backed by strong national support, is leveraging its technological advantages to integrate into and serve the overall development of the country.

Before concluding their trip, Sun Dong, alongside Zou Jingsong (Director-General of the Third Bureau of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council), Cheuk Hau-yip (Under Secretary for Security), and Ivan Lee (Commissioner for Innovation and Technology), met with Lin Xiqiang, Acting Director of the CMSA. Sun expressed his deep gratitude to the CMSA and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office for their guidance and unwavering support throughout the selection of the fourth batch of taikonauts and Lai's historic mission.

Sun emphasized that the HKSAR government will seize this historic opportunity to further optimize Hong Kong’s innovation and technology ecosystem, expand research and development platforms, and dedicate resources to building a broader stage for young local talents. He expressed strong confidence that Hong Kong will cultivate more top-tier scientific and technological talents in the future, contributing "Hong Kong strength" to China's rise as a global leader in science, technology, and aerospace.