Hong Kong's first payload specialist Li Jiaying lifts off on 24 May as crew work on aerospace medicine and microgravity

On 1 July 2026, the 29th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland, a Hong Kong SAR regional flag was displayed on China's space station by Li Jiaying (黎家盈). According to Xinhua, Li said in space that she felt very honoured to display the flag on the country's space station.

Li was born in Hong Kong in 1982 and served as a superintendent in the Hong Kong SAR government's Police Force. In June 2024 she was selected as a payload specialist in China's fourth batch of astronauts. On 24 May 2026, Li flew into space aboard Shenzhou-23 with astronauts Zhu Yangzhu and Zhang Zhiyuan, heading for China's Tiangong space station. A press release issued by the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) on 23 May called Li Hong Kong's first payload specialist and a member of the Shenzhou-23 crew.

Xinhua reported on 1 July that the three astronauts had completed one month in orbit and were advancing space science experiments in fields including aerospace medicine and microgravity physical science. Which specific projects Li is responsible for, and when she will return to Earth, are not stated in any of the public sources cited here.

From the police force to Tiangong: first flier among the fourth batch of astronauts

Xinhua, quoting a spokesperson on 23 May 2026, said Li is the first astronaut from Hong Kong and the first of the fourth batch of astronauts to carry out a flight mission. Before her selection, she worked in the Hong Kong SAR government's Police Force.

The same report listed the intensive training completed before departure: space science research and technology experiments, management of the space station complex, and operation of the crewed spacecraft and the space station's robotic arm. The list covers both scientific experiments and equipment operation.

Aerospace medicine and microgravity: officials have named fields only

According to Xinhua's report of 23 May, the Shenzhou-23 mission plans more than 100 new science projects, spanning space life sciences, space materials science, microgravity fluid physics, aerospace medicine and new space technologies.

On 1 July, Xinhua reported that the three astronauts were advancing experiments in aerospace medicine, microgravity physical science and other fields, but again listed only fields, not experiment names. The PolyU press release refers to space science experiments only in general terms and does not mention aerospace medicine or microgravity.

In other words, it is known which kinds of science the crew Li belongs to are carrying out, but not which experiment she is responsible for. No public information can yet say what medical conclusions these experiments might yield, and this article does not speculate.

Six months or one year: two accounts of time in orbit

The PolyU press release says Li's trip is a six-month space science experiment mission. The headline of Xinhua's 23 May report says that one astronaut in the Shenzhou-23 crew will carry out a one-year in-orbit stay experiment, but the report does not say which one.

Because Xinhua did not name the astronaut, this article does not infer how long Li will actually stay in orbit. As for a return date, neither the PolyU press release nor the two Xinhua reports gives one.

Another Hong Kong space strand: PolyU's lunar sampling and space manufacturing research

In its congratulatory press release, PolyU also described its own space research. According to the release, its team developed the surface sampling device for Chang'e-6, which helped achieve the first sampling from the far side of the Moon, and took part in work on the Chang'e-5 sampling device and lunar soil research.

The release adds that PolyU is advancing its Academy of Aerospace Research (PARA) and has a joint space manufacturing technology laboratory with the Chinese Academy of Sciences; the Hong Kong SAR government's InnoHK platform also supports its space research platform. PolyU president Jin-Guang Teng described Li's launch as "good news that has uplifted all of Hong Kong".

However, the release does not say PolyU is involved in Li's experiments on the space station this time. On the available information, no direct link between the two is apparent.

What has and has not been announced, at a glance

Announced by officials or official media

• Identity: Hong Kong's first payload specialist, the first astronaut from Hong Kong, and the first of the fourth batch of astronauts to fly a mission
• Departure: 24 May 2026 aboard Shenzhou-23, with fellow astronauts Zhu Yangzhu and Zhang Zhiyuan
• Background: born in Hong Kong in 1982, a former police superintendent, selected in June 2024
• Fields of experiment: aerospace medicine, microgravity physical science and others; the mission as a whole plans more than 100 new science projects

Not yet announced or confirmed

• Return date: not announced
• Time in orbit: PolyU says six months; Xinhua says one crew member will stay for a year but does not say who
• Specific experiments: names or content of Li's experiments not announced
• PolyU's link to this experiment: the press release does not mention any direct cooperation

The next time news from the space station appears, it helps to separate two things: the identity and fields that officials have confirmed, and the timing and details still to be announced. The former has an official account; the latter is still to be announced.

Prices and details correct as of October 2026

Compiled by the F50 Editorial Team from public sources, for general reference only and not professional advice. Details are correct as of the publication date and may change.