Hong Kong will soon have its first astronaut. Lai Ka-ying, a payload specialist from the city, has been selected for a mission to China’s Tiangong space station.
A police officer turned space traveler
Lai Ka-ying is not a career astronaut. She works as a police officer in Hong Kong. Her selection came through a national recruitment drive that drew about 100 candidates from the city. She was one of two payload specialists chosen from the wider Hong Kong and Macau pool. The other candidate, also a Hong Kong resident, will serve as a backup.
Payload specialists are not pilots. They are experts who operate scientific equipment and conduct experiments aboard the spacecraft. Lai’s background in policing and her physical fitness helped her pass the rigorous selection process, which included medical checks, psychological evaluations, and tests of her ability to handle extreme environments.
Why Hong Kong cares about this mission
Hong Kong has never sent one of its own residents into space. The city’s participation in China’s manned space program marks a new chapter for its scientific community. Local universities and research institutes have long contributed to space-related projects, but having a Hong Kong astronaut on board brings a direct human connection to those efforts.
The selection also reflects a broader push by China to involve Hong Kong more deeply in national science and technology initiatives. For many in the city, Lai’s journey represents a tangible link between Hong Kong and China’s ambitions beyond Earth.
What happens next
Lai will now undergo training at China’s Astronaut Center in Beijing. The training is expected to last about two years. She will learn to operate the Shenzhou spacecraft, work inside the Tiangong space station, and conduct experiments in microgravity. Her specific mission has not yet been announced, but she is expected to fly to the station within the next few years.
China’s space station, Tiangong, has been fully operational since late 2022. It orbits about 400 kilometers above Earth and hosts rotating crews of three astronauts for months at a time. Lai will join a small and growing group of Chinese astronauts, many of whom come from military aviation backgrounds. Her selection as a payload specialist from a non-scientific, non-military career is unusual and notable.
For Hong Kong, the wait for a local astronaut is over. Lai Ka-ying will carry the city’s name into orbit.
