China launches Shenzhou-23 with three astronauts as it pursues year-long orbit and Moon ambitions

China launches the Shenzhou-23 mission to the Tiangong space station with three astronauts, including Lai Ka-ying—the first Hong Kong national in space—who will oversee a planned year-long stay to study long-duration microgravity, part of Beijing’s aim to land humans on the Moon by 2030; the crew will conduct life sciences, materials science and medical experiments while China tests future deep-space programs, including the Mengzhou spacecraft for 2026 and the International Lunar Research Station by 2035, and a Pakistani astronaut is expected to join Tiangong later this year.