China has successfully launched the Shenzhou-23 spacecraft, sending a three-person crew to the Tiangong Space Station. In a major milestone for the country’s space program, one astronaut is slated to spend a record-breaking full year in orbit to study the long-term physiological effects of spaceflight. This extended mission serves as a crucial stepping stone toward Beijing’s ambitious goal of achieving a crewed lunar landing by 2030. The crew features payload specialist Li Jiaying, a former police inspector who has made history as the first astronaut from Hong Kong to join a Chinese space mission. Li is accompanied by mission commander Zhu Yangzhu and pilot Zhang Yuanzhi for this landmark voyage.
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