China launches spacecraft with astronaut set to remain in space for a year
Summary
China launched the Shenzhou 23 spacecraft carrying three astronauts to its space station. One astronaut will stay in space for about a year to study how the human body handles long stays in orbit.Key Facts
- The launch took place at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China.
- The mission's crew members are Zhu Yangzhu (commander), Zhang Zhiyuan, and Lai Ka-ying, who is from Hong Kong and has a PhD in computer forensics.
- Lai Ka-ying is the first astronaut from Hong Kong and the fourth Chinese woman to go to space.
- The astronauts will conduct many science and practical projects aboard the Tiangong (Heavenly Palace) space station.
- One crew member is planned to remain on the space station for one year, one of the longest missions ever.
- This mission will involve an in-orbit crew change with previous astronauts who have spent over 200 days at Tiangong.
- China’s space program aims to land astronauts on the Moon by 2030.
- The Tiangong space station was built after China was excluded from the International Space Station over U.S. security concerns.
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