72 hours without sleep, 48 hours in the desert, 120 candidates, a strict selection process and a dream that came true

As reported by CCTV+, Lai Ka-ying, the first astronaut from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and a crew member of Shenzhou-23, shared how her space dream finally became a reality. She speaks with anticipation about the upcoming journey.

The launch of Shenzhou-23 is scheduled for 23:08 on Sunday (Beijing time) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. The crew includes Zhu Yangzhu, Zhang Zhiyuan and Lai. Zhu will serve as the mission commander.

Lai was born and raised in Hong Kong. She worked in the police force before becoming an astronaut. Holding a PhD in computer forensics, she will serve as a payload specialist.

Becoming an astronaut had always been her dream. In 2022, China’s manned space program began recruiting astronauts from Hong Kong and Macau. Lai recalls: “Such a rare opportunity appeared, and I had to seize it. So I decided to try. Step by step, I made my way here.”

She applied for the fourth batch of astronaut candidates. In 2023, she went to Beijing, underwent rigorous selection and stood out among some 120 candidates from Hong Kong.

Lai joined the astronaut corps in June 2024. But getting into the corps was only the beginning. “Soon after arriving, we had to undergo a 72-hour no-sleep training session. It wasn’t too difficult for me, because police work was already very intense. But the 48-hour desert training was much harder. I really don’t like the heat, and working under the scorching sun was especially tough. But I made it through with the help of other team members. We did it together.”

After comprehensive training, Lai earned a spot on the Shenzhou-23 mission. “When it was time to take our official portraits in April, my feelings were completely different. We were really going to space. It still felt a bit unreal, but my heart was filled with honor and joy. I couldn’t wait to put what I had learned into practice.”

During the mission, Lai will be mainly responsible for operating space science experiment equipment, specifically the MUSICO system, developed by the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. It will monitor carbon dioxide and methane concentrations.

Lai is full of anticipation: “Many people asked me to take good photos of Hong Kong from space. I will remember that. I have heard astronauts share their feelings about being in space. I can’t wait to experience it myself. And I will share my feelings with everyone after I return.”

She was a police officer in Hong Kong. Now she is flying into space. 72 hours without sleep, 48 hours in the desert, 120 candidates, a harsh selection. Lai Ka-ying not only went through all of this — she endured. And became the first woman from Hong Kong to see the Earth from orbit. Her dream began in 2022. It became reality in 2026. She will photograph Hong Kong from space. Study carbon dioxide and methane. And when she returns, she will tell us what it feels like to float above the planet. The question is not how many more such stories China’s space program will write. The question is how many children in Hong Kong, looking at her, will say: “I want to do that too.” And one day follow in her footsteps. Because dreams do come true. Especially when they come with 72 hours without sleep.