Bond.az -- China is set to launch its Shenzhou-23 mission on Sunday, sending three astronauts to the Tiangong space station. One crew member could remain in orbit for a full year, the longest human space mission in the country's history.
The Shenzhou-23 spacecraft will lift off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center aboard a Long March-2F Y23 rocket, according to the China Manned Space Agency.
The crew includes commander Zhu Yangzhu, pilot Zhang Yuanzhi, and payload specialist Li Jiaying, a former Hong Kong police inspector who will become the first astronaut from Hong Kong to join a Chinese space mission.
Chinese officials said one astronaut could stay aboard Tiangong for up to a year, exceeding the six-month missions standard since 2021.
The launch comes as China advances plans to land astronauts on the moon by 2030, competing with the U.S., which targets a crewed lunar landing in 2028 under NASA's Artemis program.
China is developing hardware for lunar ambitions, including the Long March-10 rocket, Mengzhou spacecraft, and Lanyue lunar lander.
The Shenzhou-23 mission will also perform the first autonomous rapid rendezvous and docking with Tiangong's core module.
Scientists will study effects of long-duration spaceflight, including radiation exposure, bone density loss, and psychological stress.
