China has launched three astronauts aboard its Shenzhou 23 spacecraft, sending a new crew to the Tiangong space station in a mission that forms part of its broader effort to land astronauts on the Moon before the end of the decade.
The spacecraft lifted off on a Long March 2F rocket from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China on 24 May.
The crew consists of commander Zhu Yangzhu, spacecraft pilot Zhang Zhiyuan and payload specialist Lai Ka-ying, who becomes the first astronaut from Hong Kong to fly into space.
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After reaching orbit, Shenzhou 23 docked with the Tiangong space station, where the crew will take over from the astronauts of the Shenzhou 21 mission, who have spent more than 200 days in space.
During their stay, the new crew will conduct dozens of experiments spanning life sciences, medicine, materials science and microgravity physics.
One of the mission’s most significant objectives is a planned year-long stay in orbit by a member of the crew.
The astronaut selected for the extended mission will be named at a later date, but the experiment is intended to study the effects of long-duration spaceflight on the human body and help prepare for future lunar expeditions.
According to Chinese state media, the extended mission will investigate 'human adaptability and performance limits' in space.
The launch comes as China accelerates development of the hardware needed for a crewed lunar landing, including the Long March 10 rocket, the Mengzhou crew spacecraft and the Lanyue lunar lander.
Beijing has repeatedly stated its intention to place astronauts on the Moon by 2030 and establish an international lunar research station with Russia in the following decade.
The mission unfolds against a backdrop of renewed global interest in lunar exploration, with NASA preparing for future Artemis missions aimed at returning to the Moon and establishing a sustained human presence there.
