China-Shenzhou-23 Mission/Briefing
China-Shenzhou-23 Mission/Briefing
Dateline : May 23, 2026
Location : China
Duration : 1'32
Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, northwest China - May 23, 2026 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Press briefing on Shenzhou-23 manned space mission in progress
2. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Zhang Jingbo, spokesman, China Manned Space Agency (CMSA):
"As evaluated and decided by the mission headquarters, the Shenzhou-23 spaceship is scheduled to be launched at 11:08 p.m. on May 24 (Beijing Time). The crew consists of astronauts Zhu Yangzhu, Zhang Zhiyuan and Lai Ka-ying, with Zhu being the commander."
3. Press conference in progress
4. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Zhang Jingbo, spokesman, China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) (starting with shot 3):
"Astronaut Zhu Yangzhu previously took part in the Shenzhou-16 manned space mission. Zhang Zhiyuan and Lai Ka-ying, from China's third and fourth batches of astronauts respectively, are making their first spaceflight. Zhang Zhiyuan was a pilot from Air Force. Lai Ka-ying worked for Hong Kong Police Force."
5. Photo of Shenzhou-23 crew
6. Photo of Shenzhou-23 crew member Zhu Yangzhu
7. Photo of Shenzhou-23 crew member Zhang Zhiyuan
8. Photo of Shenzhou-23 crew member Lai Ka-ying
9. Various of combination of Shenzhou-23 crewed spaceship, Long March-2F carrier rocket at launching area
China's Shenzhou-23 crewed spaceship is scheduled to be launched at 11:08 p.m. Sunday (Beijing Time) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, the China Manned Space Agency announced on Saturday.
Zhang Jingbo, spokesman of the agency, announced the launch schedule while briefing the media on the main tasks of the Shenzhou-23 mission.
"As evaluated and decided by the mission headquarters, the Shenzhou-23 spaceship is scheduled to be launched at 11:08 p.m. on May 24 (Beijing Time). The crew consists of astronauts Zhu Yangzhu, Zhang Zhiyuan and Lai Ka-ying, with Zhu being the commander," Zhang said.
The three astronauts, Zhu Yangzhu, Zhang Zhiyuan and Lai Ka-ying will take over control of China's Tiangong space station from the Shenzhou-21 crew who are currently in orbit.
"Astronaut Zhu Yangzhu previously took part in the Shenzhou-16 manned space mission. Zhang Zhiyuan and Lai Ka-ying, from China's third and fourth batches of astronauts respectively, are making their first spaceflight. Zhang Zhiyuan was a pilot from Air Force. Lai Ka-ying worked for Hong Kong Police Force," Zhang said.
Notably, one astronaut from the Shenzhou-23 crew is set to conduct a year-long stay in orbit, while the other two will spend about six months in space.
The combination of the Shenzhou-23 crewed spaceship and a Long March-2F carrier rocket was transferred to the launching area on May 16, with pre-launch function checks and joint tests being conducted to ensure its mission readiness.
ID : 8480736
Published : 2026-05-23 09:32
Last Modified : 2026-05-23 17:59:02
Source : China Central Television (CCTV)
Restrictions : No access Chinese mainland
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