Lai Ka-ying - 11.1982

[Orionid]

05.07.2024 szef Specjalnego Regionu Administracyjnego Hongkong, John Lee Ka-chiu (李家超),  wygłosił przemówienie za pośrednictwem wideokonferencji podczas uroczystości inauguracyjnej młodzieżowej delegacji zajmującej się eksploracją kosmosu.

Lee wspomniał, że pierwszy taikonauta z Hong Kong Special Administrative Region ma wyruszyć w swoją pierwszą misję kosmiczną w 2026.

Zgodnie ze standardem  tożsamość taikonauty z Hongkongu pozostaje nieznana.

Jednak wkrótce po czerwcowej selekcji, „ South China Morning Post” i „ Hong Kong Free Press” uważają, że wybrana osoba to Lai Ka-ying (黎家盈), starszy inspektor policji Hongkongu, posiadający doktorat z informatyki i nauk ścisłych.

Wg spekulacji, biorąc pod uwagę niedawny komentarz Lee i harmonogram misji Shenzhou, najwcześniejszą misją, do której taikonauta z Hongkongu mógłby zostać przydzielony (jeśli jeszcze nie został przydzielony), jest misja Shenzhou-23, która była planowana na 10.2026 r.

Hong Kong's Taikonaut Could Fly in 2026, Chief Executive Says
Jack C. Jul 07, 2025

But the spacefarer’s identity remains unknown.
https://www.china-in-space.com/p/hong-kongs-taikonaut-could-fly-in

[Orionid]

HK’s first-ever female payload specialist promoted to superintendent
NEWS 29-04-2025 11:56 HKT (Cheng Wong)

Lai Ka-ying, chosen as the city’s first payload specialist in the National Manned Space Program, was recently promoted to superintendent of the Hong Kong Police Force ahead of her 2026 spaceflight mission, according to Sing Tao Headline, The Standard’s sister publication.

Sources indicated that Lai received official notification of her promotion after successfully passing a series of assessments.

Before this advancement, she served as a chief inspector in the Hong Kong Police Force and holds a doctoral degree. She specializes in information technology and computer science.

It is also understood that she was born and raised in Hong Kong and is a mother of three.

Sing Tao previously reported that Lai was seconded to the Security Bureau and has been training in Beijing since 2023, qualifying as an astronaut.

The recruitment for the country’s fourth batch of astronauts began in October 2022, culminating in the selection of ten candidates in June last year, which includes eight space pilots and two payload specialists from the two SARs.

Last week, spokesman for the China Manned Space Agency Lin Xiqiang announced that the Hong Kong and Macau astronauts have quickly adapted to their work and living environments, with expectations to embark on their first spaceflight mission as early as next year.
https://www.thestandard.com.hk/news/article/301391/HKs-first-ever-female-payload-specialist-promoted-to-superintendent


https://www.dimsumdaily.hk/hong-kongs-first-female-payload-specialist-promoted-to-superintendent-ahead-of-space-mission/

[Orionid]

Potwierdziły się spekulacje.
W misji Shenzhou-23 zadebiutuje reprezentant 4. naboru taikonautów.
Jest pierwszą osobą pochodzącą ze Specjalnego Regionu Administracyjnego Hongkong.
Zostanie czwartą Chinką w kosmosie.
S-23 https://www.forum.kosmonauta.net/index.php?topic=6901.msg205927#msg205927
PZ https://www.forum.kosmonauta.net/index.php?topic=140.msg205828#msg205828

First astronaut from Hong Kong to embark on China's spaceflight mission
Source: Xinhua Editor: huaxia 2026-05-23 10:51:15
   
JIUQUAN, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Li Jiaying, or Lai Ka-ying in Cantonese, the first astronaut from China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, has been selected as a payload specialist for the Shenzhou-23 spaceflight mission, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) said on Saturday.

Li passed the flight qualification assessment with outstanding results. "She is currently in good overall condition and demonstrates strong crew coordination," Zhang Jingbo, the CMSA spokesperson, told a press conference.

Under the framework of "one country, two systems," Hong Kong can give full play to its international advantages, further gather and cultivate high-end scientific and technological talents, and contribute to the advancement of China's manned space program, said Zhang.

The Shenzhou-23 crewed spaceship is scheduled to be launched at 11:08 p.m. Sunday (Beijing Time) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, according to the agency. ■
https://english.news.cn/20260523/854e247dd7ae4d5cbccf1ade15bed3bc/c.html

First astronaut from Hong Kong to embark on Chinese spaceflight mission
Source: Xinhua Editor: huaxia 2026-05-23 17:28:30
   
JIUQUAN, May 23 (Xinhua) -- Li Jiaying, or Lai Ka-ying in Cantonese, is about to make history as the first astronaut from China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) to travel to space, having been selected on Saturday as a payload specialist for the upcoming Shenzhou-23 spaceflight mission.

Li, who holds a PhD in computer forensics and previously served in the Hong Kong Police Force, will join mission commander Zhu Yangzhu and spacecraft pilot Zhang Zhiyuan for the flight, which is scheduled to be launched on Sunday night.

Li will be mainly responsible for operating space science experiment equipment aboard the Tiangong space station, said Zhang Jingbo, spokesperson of the China Manned Space Agency, at a press conference on Saturday morning.

During her public debut as an astronaut later on Saturday, Li expressed her gratitude to the country for providing her with a platform to realize her dreams and to the HKSAR government and its residents for their unwavering support.

"Right now, my heart is filled with gratitude and a deep sense of honor. I also feel the great responsibility that comes with this mission," she said, "I will give my absolute best to complete all tasks."

"I will not let the people of Hong Kong down, and even more so, I will not fail the trust placed in me by the motherland," she added, vowing to serve as a bridge for the space endeavors of Hong Kong, Macao and the mainland.

Li, born in November 1982 in Hong Kong, passed the flight qualification assessment with outstanding results. "She is currently in good overall condition and demonstrates strong crew coordination," said Zhang Jingbo.

"We're happy to see Hong Kong's scientific community increasingly integrated into the national space program in recent years," Zhang noted.

"Under the framework of 'one country, two systems,' Hong Kong is expected to leverage its international advantages to further gather and cultivate high-end scientific and technological talents, contributing to the advancement of the country's manned space program," he added.

John Lee, chief executive of the HKSAR, on Saturday congratulated Li on becoming one of the country's fourth batch of astronauts.

"The HKSAR is embracing a historic moment in the pursuit of its aerospace dream. We are deeply inspired by this moment of extraordinary significance, where a Hong Kong specialist takes part in the spaceflight mission as an astronaut for the first time," Lee said in a press release.

"I express my heartfelt gratitude to the country for providing the HKSAR's technology talent with this valuable opportunity to take part in the aerospace endeavors of the country," he stated, adding that it is not only an affirmation of Li's own capability, but also a testimony to the country's high recognition of Hong Kong's innovation and technology talent, development and achievements.

When Li finally lifts off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, she will follow in the footsteps of female astronauts Liu Yang, Wang Yaping and Wang Haoze, becoming China's fourth female astronaut to reach space.

Described by the mission commander as "a resilient and meticulous team player," Li completed her transition from police officer to astronaut in roughly two years.

Li has completed over 200 training tasks across eight major categories, accumulating more than 1,700 training hours since she finally joined China's astronaut team in August 2024, according to Zhang.

She completed rigorous training in space science research and technology experiments, space station combination management, as well as operations of manned spacecraft and robotic arms, meeting all flight mission requirements, Zhang said.

"The training along the way has been truly challenging and at times extremely hard. Standing here today, I owe it to the thorough instruction of my astronaut teachers, the selfless dedication of everyone in the space program, and the unconditional support of my family," said Li, a mother of three children.

Talking about her upcoming space journey, Li was full of excitement. She said that she looked forward to viewing the blue planet from space and made a promise to work hard on a special mission in orbit.

"Many people have asked me to take good photos of Hong Kong from above. I will keep that in mind," Li said. ■

https://english.news.cn/20260523/c214c829f23f4e6b83a31ba11dc8ff31/c.html

Wu Lei @wulei2020 5:55 AM · May 23, 2026
Meet Li Jiaying, the first astronaut from the 4th batch and the first female payload specialist from #HongKongSAR to join #Shenzhou23 mission!
From space science research to robotic arm operations, she is fully prepared for the upcoming mission.
Wish her a successful journey!

https://twitter.com/wulei2020/status/2058034095548981708

[Orionid]

Chinese Space Station @CNSpaceStation  5:42 PM · May 23, 2026
👩‍🚀Astronaut Bio | Lai Ka-ying, 43, a resident of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, is a superintendent and technical specialist with the Hong Kong Police Force.

She graduated from @HKUniversity in 2011 with a doctoral degree in computer science and joined the Hong Kong Police Force in 2012.

Lai was selected as part of China's fourth-generation astronauts in June 2024, becoming the first astronaut from #HongKong. She is the payload specialist of the Shenzhou XXIII mission. [📷/CMS]

https://twitter.com/CNSpaceStation/status/2058212038787412307

[Orionid]

Profile: Hong Kong's first astronaut Li Jiaying, a bauhinia to blossom in space
Source: Xinhua Editor: huaxia 2026-05-24 19:57:15

(...) At 15, on the night of June 30, 1997, Lai walked the streets of Tsim Sha Tsui with her family, feeling the electric anticipation of Hong Kong's return to China. She saw police officers take off their old badges at midnight and put on new ones with the bauhinia in the middle. (...)

She earned a doctorate in computer forensics from the University of Hong Kong and joined the Hong Kong Police Force in 2012, specializing in digital forensics and cybersecurity. (...)

When a notice appeared in 2022 announcing that China was recruiting its fourth batch of reserve astronauts, and for the first time, opening selection to Hong Kong and Macao, something exciting stirred.

"The height requirement was 160 centimeters. I'm 161, just one centimeter over," she said with a laugh. "This is a rare chance. Why not try?" (...)

After three rounds of selection, Lai stood out from some 120 candidates from Hong Kong. In August 2024, she said goodbye to her husband and three young children and left for Beijing to join China's astronaut team.

The transition was uneasy. Mandarin, unfamiliar to her Cantonese tongue, was a daily struggle in the beginning. But physical training was a greater challenge later on: the centrifuge pressed the vision from her eyes; 72 hours without sleep; six days and five nights in dark caves; 48 hours in the scorching heat and freezing cold of the desert. (...)

The sacrifices paid off when Li completed over 200 training tasks across eight major categories, meeting all flight mission requirement. (...)

This November, Li will celebrate her birthday in space, the same day as her youngest daughter's. For the first time, they will not be together. But she will take with her photos, drawings and letters from her family.

"When I miss them, I will take them out and take a look," she said. ■
https://english.news.cn/20260524/e0f5fb76b005442f8b563e3504cb1e14/c.html

Wu Lei @wulei2020 7:29 PM · May 24, 2026
I just watched the whole launch of #Shenzhou23 crewed mission!
The payload specialist impressed me the most — Li Jiaying, a computer science PhD & the first astronaut from China's Hong Kong SAR on the Shenzhou-23 mission.
No pilot background, but skills, passion&brutal training.

https://twitter.com/wulei2020/status/2058601267572937065