With the successful launch of the Shenzhou-23 manned spacecraft, Hong Kong has welcomed a historic moment! Lai Ka-ying, a Chief Inspector from the Hong Kong Police Force, is participating in this space mission as a payload specialist. She is not only Hong Kong's first astronaut but also China's fourth female astronaut — truly a pride of Hong Kong. So, if you want to become the next Hong Kong astronaut, what standards do you need to meet?
To go into space, you first need to know that astronauts have different "roles." In the early days of human space exploration, missions mainly involved piloting spacecraft, so astronauts were mostly pilots with exceptional physical fitness. But as aerospace technology has advanced, space missions have become more diverse. Astronauts not only need to fly spacecraft but also conduct various complex scientific experiments in space.
To improve efficiency, China has classified astronauts into three major categories. The first category is spacecraft pilots, responsible for operating and controlling crewed spacecraft. The second category is mission specialists (flight engineers), responsible for managing and maintaining spacecraft equipment while also assisting pilots. The third category is payload specialists, who are researchers responsible for operating various experimental equipment, collecting data, and conducting scientific research.
The selection process for becoming an astronaut is extremely rigorous. In 2022, China conducted its first selection of payload specialists in Hong Kong. The requirements included being a Chinese citizen and a permanent resident of Hong Kong, holding at least a doctoral degree, being between 30 and 45 years old, with male candidates standing 162–175 cm tall and female candidates 160–175 cm tall. Additionally, candidates needed to be in good health, non-allergic, and free from any past or family medical history that could affect mission performance.
At the time, about 120 top scientific research talents from across Hong Kong applied. From early 2023 to mid-2024, they went through three stages: preliminary selection, secondary selection, and final selection. Candidates not only had to pass comprehensive clinical medical examinations but also endure rigorous tests of physiological function, endurance, professional competencies, and various psychological assessments.
In the end, Lai Ka-ying stood out with her outstanding comprehensive quality and became the only selected representative from Hong Kong. She officially joined the astronaut team in August 2024, underwent countless demanding training sessions, and has finally welcomed her shining moment in space today.
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