Hong Kong's First Astronaut Lai Ka-ying Delivers Historic Space Lesson from Tiangong Station
Bastillepost · 7 SOURCES1 day ago6 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong's first homegrown astronaut Dr. Lai Ka-ying conducted a live space education session with students from Hong Kong and Macau on Wednesday morning, broadcasting from China's Tiangong space station where she has been stationed for over 100 days aboard the Shenzhou-23 spacecraft since May. The historic Tiangong Classroom special session for Hong Kong and Macau was held at her alma mater in Tsuen Wan, with Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu and Education Bureau chief Dr. Christine Choi Yuk-lin attending in person. The 90-minute event featured real-time science experiments, interactive dialogue between the Shenzhou-23 crew and students, and demonstrations showcasing the unique environment of microgravity.
Key Points
- Dr. Lai Ka-ying (黎家盈), Hong Kong's first payload specialist, has been aboard the Tiangong space station for over 100 days since the Shenzhou-23 launch on May 7, 2026
- The Tiangong Classroom session took place at Tsuen Wan Public Ho Chuen Yiu Memorial College, Dr. Lai's alma mater, with Chief Executive John Lee and Education Bureau chief Dr. Christine Choi in attendance
- The Shenzhou-23 crew consists of Commander Zhu Yangzhu, astronaut Zhang Zhiyuan, and payload specialist Dr. Lai Ka-ying, who demonstrated experiments including a spinning top, wringing a wet towel, and showing space food
- Dr. Lai greeted students in Cantonese and displayed personal items including family photos, Hong Kong food models, and the Police Force mascot "Grapes" in her sleep area
- The Education Bureau had issued a circular to all primary and secondary schools inviting teachers and students to watch the live broadcast on multiple TV channels including RTHK TV 31, TVB News Channel, HOY TV, Now TV, and Phoenix TV
- The Tianyun camera, developed by Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, was featured during the session, capable of monitoring global greenhouse gas emissions with 100-meter resolution
Why It Matters
The event represents a historic milestone for Hong Kong's participation in China's space program, offering students a unique opportunity to engage directly with an astronaut who shares their background and inspiring the next generation of Hong Kong scientists and engineers . The live interaction from space underscores the territory's growing role in national space exploration, with Hong Kong-developed technology like the Tianyun camera contributing to national and global scientific advancement .
The event represents a historic milestone for Hong Kong's participation in China's space program, offering students a unique opportunity to engage directly with an astronaut who shares their background and inspiring the next generation of Hong Kong scientists and engineers . The live interaction from space underscores the territory's growing role in national space exploration, with Hong Kong-developed technology like the Tianyun camera contributing to national and global scientific advancement .