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HKU alumna Dr Lai Ka-ying was selected to join the Shenzhou-23 spaceflight mission as a payload specialist. 
(Image courtesy of the Information Services Department, HKSAR Government

In a first for HKU and Hong Kong, our alumna Dr Lai Ka-ying was selected to join the Shenzhou-23 crewed spaceflight mission as a payload specialist. Thrilled HKU students and colleagues gathered at the Jockey Club Student Village IV in Wong Chuk Hang to cheer her on during the lift-off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center on May 24, wishing her a safe and successful journey! 

Born and raised in Hong Kong, Dr Lai – who holds BSc (Computer Science and Information Systems), MPhil, and PhD (Computer Science) degrees, all from HKU – is participating in the Shenzhou-23 mission as one of its three-member crew alongside Yangzhu Zhu and Zhiyuan Zhang. They have been tasked to carry out more than 100 scientific and applications projects in life sciences, materials science, fluid physics, and medicine.  As the first Hong Kong payload specialist to journey into orbit, Dr Lai's mission marks a new chapter of deep participation by Hong Kong’s scientific community in the national space programmes. 

HKU President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Xiang Zhang congratulated Dr Lai, noting that her achievement was a moment of immense pride for HKU and the city, and a testament to the world-class calibre of the University’s talent. “Ka-ying’s journey from our labs to the stars embodies the perseverance and excellence of both the HKU and Hong Kong spirit,” he said. “Her success serves as a beacon for our students, proving that with dedication, the most ambitious dreams are within reach. We hope Ka-ying’s mission inspires a new generation of Hong Kong scientists to reach for the stars and contribute to our nation’s glorious space odyssey.” 

Ka-ying’s journey from our labs to the stars embodies the perseverance and excellence of both the HKU and Hong Kong spirit. Her success serves as a beacon for our students, proving that with dedication, the most ambitious dreams are within reach.

Professor Xiang Zhang, President and Vice-Chancellor

“Her journey through the rigours of years of studies at HKU prepared her for the extreme demands of astronaut training, where mental fortitude is as critical as technical expertise,” observed Dr Chow Kam-pui, Dr Lai’s PhD supervisor and Honorary Associate Professor, School of Computing and Data Science at HKU. “At HKU, we empower our graduates to apply advanced technology to the most unforgiving environments – proving that HKU’s academic excellence translates from the laboratory to the final frontier of space.”

HKU extends its warmest congratulations to Dr Lai on her being selected as a crew member of the Shenzhou-23 mission. The University looks forward to learning of more stellar accomplishments and discoveries by the Shenzhou-23 crew and to welcoming them back home after a safe and successful mission.  

(This article is adapted from https://www.keynotes.hku.hk/story/hku-alumna-makes-history-as-the-first-hong-kong-payload-specialist-in-space/ and https://www.hku.hk/press/press-releases/detail/29123.html)  

HKU students and colleagues gathered at the Jockey Club Student Village IV in Wong Chuk Hang to watch the successful launch of the Shenzhou-23 spacecraft via live broadcast.