Shenzhou-23 Crew Revealed: Hong Kong Payload Specialist Li Jiaying Set for First Spaceflight to China's Station
Summary: On May 23, 2026, China officially unveiled the crew for the Shenzhou-23 manned spaceflight mission at the Wentian Hall of the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. Commander Zhu Yangzhu leads the crew alongside pilot Zhang Zhiyuan and payload specialist Li Jiaying from Hong Kong. Li Jiaying, from China's fourth astronaut cohort, will become China's first astronaut from Hong Kong and the fourth Chinese woman in space. Shenzhou-23 is targeted to launch on May 24 at 23:08 BJT (15:08 UTC) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.
Sources (original pages)
- China News: Shenzhou-23 Crew Confirmed — Zhu Yangzhu, Zhang Zhiyuan, Li Jiaying (May 23, 2026)
- Xinhua Graphics: Shenzhou-23 Astronaut Crew Confirmed (May 23, 2026)
- Tencent News: Shenzhou-23 Crew Confirmed (May 23, 2026)
Crew Composition
According to the China Manned Space Agency and multiple media reports, the Shenzhou-23 crew is China's first to comprise astronauts from both the third and fourth batches:
- Commander (01): Zhu Yangzhu — A payload engineer from China's third astronaut cohort who previously flew on Shenzhou-16. He is China's first payload engineer to serve as mission commander and the first third-batch astronaut to command a crew.
- 02 Astronaut: Zhang Zhiyuan — A spacecraft pilot from China's third astronaut cohort, embarking on his first spaceflight.
- 03 Astronaut: Li Jiaying — A payload specialist from China's fourth astronaut cohort, hailing from Hong Kong. Prior to selection, she served as a Chief Inspector with the Hong Kong Police Force and holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Hong Kong. She will become China's first astronaut from Hong Kong and the fourth Chinese woman in space.
Li Jiaying: From Hong Kong Police Chief Inspector to Payload Specialist
Born in Hong Kong, Li Jiaying earned her Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Hong Kong in 2011. She joined the Hong Kong Police Force in 2012 as an Inspector specializing in information technology support, later rising to the rank of Chief Inspector.
In September 2022, China initiated the selection process for the fourth batch of reserve astronauts, targeting 12 to 14 candidates including payload specialists from Hong Kong and Macau regions. In May 2024, the fourth batch selection was completed and Li Jiaying was selected; she formally joined the team in August 2024 for training.
As a payload specialist, Li Jiaying will be responsible for in-orbit scientific experiments and technical tests. Compared to spacecraft pilots, payload specialists undergo a shorter training cycle — one reason she was able to fly within two years of joining the team.
One-Year Stay: Setting a New Record for Chinese Spaceflight
A major highlight of the Shenzhou-23 mission: one crew member will carry out an extended stay of more than one year aboard the space station. After completing approximately six months of on-orbit work, this astronaut will remain aboard the station to await the Shenzhou-24 crew for handover, returning to Earth aboard Shenzhou-24.
The one-year stay will help researchers gain deeper insight into the effects of long-term microgravity on the human body, accumulating critical data for future crewed lunar and deep-space exploration missions.
Launch Timeline and Preparations
According to multiple sources, Shenzhou-23 is targeted to launch at 23:08 BJT on May 24 (15:08 UTC, window ~40 minutes wide) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.
The spacecraft and Long March 2F Yao-23 carrier rocket组合体 was transferred to the launch zone on May 16. On May 22, the mission conducted a full-system joint rehearsal covering the launch area, flight corridor, and emergency return zone, with all systems completing functional checks.
Shenzhou-22: Preparing to Return
Following the launch of Shenzhou-23, the Shenzhou-21 crew will return to Earth aboard Shenzhou-22 between 19:49 and 20:21 BJT on May 29, landing at the Dongfeng recovery area. Shenzhou-22 will bring the crew safely back after approximately six months on orbit.