China Manned Space Agency announced on 23 May 2026 that Li Jiaying will become the first Hong Kong astronaut to launch to the Tiangong Space Station. Li Jiaying is part of the crew to launch to China’s space laboratory for the Shenzhou-23 spaceflight mission.
From Hong Kong To Space
Over the past few years, China has been working to broaden the range of people going to the Tiangong Space Station through strategic partnerships. It is already training two Pakistani astronauts, preparing them for a crewed mission to its space laboratory. Given Hong Kong’s special status within China, the Chinese authorities are looking at this Li’s mission as something to mark.
Ahead of this mission with a Pakistani astronaut, China is sending its first Hong Kong astronaut into space. Li Jiaying has been launched to the Tiangong Space Station and will become the first astronaut from the country inside China to do so.
Li is from China’s Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and served as a payload specialist on the Shenzhou-23 mission, which launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China on 24 May 2025. Regarding Li Zhang Jingbo, the CMSA spokesperson said, “She is currently in good overall condition and demonstrates strong crew coordination.”
The China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) trained and evaluated Li, deeming her fit to embark on this mission. This mission will strengthen the space collaborations between China and Hong Kong.
In the future, more Shenzhou missions might include other astronauts from other countries that partner with China under its manned space program.