Hong Kong's First Astronaut Lai Ka-ying to Deliver Live Lecture from Space
SCMP · 1 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong's first astronaut Lai Ka-ying and her Shenzhou-23 crewmates will deliver a live lecture from the Tiangong Space Station for students and teachers in Hong Kong and Macau. The "Tiangong Class" broadcast, jointly organized by the Hong Kong and Macau governments and the China Manned Space Agency, will include an expert lecture, in-orbit demonstrations and a question-and-answer session showcasing the space environment. The Education Bureau will arrange for primary and secondary school students and teachers to watch the live broadcast on campuses, while the event will also be available online and on local television stations.
Key Points
- Lai Ka-ying, 43, is a former police superintendent and mother of three serving as the payload specialist on the Shenzhou-23 mission
- The live broadcast activity is jointly organized by the Hong Kong and Macau governments and the China Manned Space Agency, without a specific date announced yet
- One crew member will remain on the Tiangong Space Station for one year to study long-term health effects, while Lai and another astronaut will return in November
- The Information Services Department will stream the event on its website and Facebook page, with local television stations also broadcasting it
- The Education Bureau says the event will enhance students' knowledge of aerospace science and cultivate patriotism and national identity
Why It Matters
The live lecture represents a landmark moment for science education in Hong Kong, giving students direct access to space demonstrations they cannot replicate on Earth and inspiring interest in aerospace careers . The event also symbolizes Hong Kong's participation in China's manned space programme, with Lai becoming the first locally-born astronaut to conduct official duties aboard the Tiangong station .
The live lecture represents a landmark moment for science education in Hong Kong, giving students direct access to space demonstrations they cannot replicate on Earth and inspiring interest in aerospace careers . The event also symbolizes Hong Kong's participation in China's manned space programme, with Lai becoming the first locally-born astronaut to conduct official duties aboard the Tiangong station .