First Hong Kong Astronaut Lai Ka-ying Set for Launch; CE John Lee Offers Best Wishes via Video Call
China's Shenzhou 23 spacecraft is scheduled to launch officially at 11:08 PM tonight. This mission holds historical significance for Hong Kong, as the crew includes Lai Ka-ying, the first astronaut from Hong Kong. This marks the official participation of Hong Kong people in the national manned space program, drawing significant attention from all sectors of society.
At a critical moment before the launch, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee held a video call with Lai Ka-ying. During the call, Lee expressed the deepest support and encouragement to her on behalf of all Hong Kong citizens. He wished Lai Ka-ying’s mission a complete success and hoped she would continue to write a glorious chapter for the nation’s aerospace industry.
Lai Ka-ying is the first payload specialist from Hong Kong to be selected as a national astronaut. Her successful selection is not only a personal honor but also demonstrates Hong Kong's strength in the fields of science and technology. In the call, she thanked the nation for its cultivation and the citizens of Hong Kong for their support, stating that she would go all out to complete various experimental tasks and bring honor to Hong Kong.
The Shenzhou 23 mission is an important milestone in China's space program. After the spacecraft launches, it will travel to the Chinese Space Station to conduct a handover with the current astronauts. Lai Ka-ying and other crew members will live in space for a period of time, conducting multiple scientific research projects and technical tests, which are crucial for future space exploration.
Chief Executive John Lee stated that Lai Ka-ying's story will inspire more young people in Hong Kong to pursue their scientific dreams. He hopes this opportunity will draw more attention to the development of aerospace technology. All Hong Kong citizens are currently looking forward to the moment of launch and await Lai Ka-ying's safe return after completing her mission to share her precious experiences in space.