HONG KONG, May 23 (Xinhua) -- For Hong Kong, a city better known for skyscrapers than its celestial ambitions, Saturday marked a historic moment in its pursuit of an aerospace dream.
As China unveiled the Shenzhou-23 crew for its space station mission, Lai Ka-ying, a local payload specialist, became the first astronaut from the financial hub to join the national space program.
An expert in computer science, Lai served in the Hong Kong Police Force before being selected for the crew. During her doctorate studies between 2007 and 2011, she worked in a research team helping law enforcement authorities crack complex cyber crimes.
Chow Kam-pui, an honorary associate professor with the University of Hong Kong and Lai's former supervisor, said that her performance on the team has left a deep impression on him.
"While others found the analysis of vast data sets tedious, she remained singularly patient and focused," Chow recalled, noting that Lai's ability to distill complexity into clarity will be the greatest asset for her upcoming mission.
"With her independent judgment and team spirit, Lai is well-equipped for the mission," Chow said with great confidence, expecting her to capture a few photos of the Earth during her journey.
The high regard for Lai extends beyond academia. In the eyes of her former colleagues, Lai is a trustworthy team player. Having worked alongside her, Chow Yat-ming, commissioner of police of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, described Lai as an exemplary colleague.
Hong Kong's ties with the country's space journey run far deeper than many realize. From the Chang'e-3 lunar probe to the cargo craft Tianzhou-10 and Chang'e-5 mission, the city has built up its scientific prowess by participating in national space missions.
The announcement of the crew list has sparked a sense of pride across the city. On Saturday morning, some local communities gathered to watch the press conference, sharing the joy of knowing Lai gets to fly into space.
Lai has stirred up yearnings in young Hong Kong students for careers in space exploration. "The dream of becoming an astronaut has never seemed so palpable," said So Chu-wing, curator of Hong Kong Space Museum. The museum has organized summer camps to enlighten middle and high school students about space sciences.
Hong Kong's Pui Kiu Middle School houses an oak tree planted in 2003 by Yang Liwei, China's first astronaut in space. For years, it has been a source of pride for the students, emblematic of the growing interest in scientific pursuits among the younger generation of Hong Kong.
"I hope Lai can also come to the school to share her stories about the mission," said Nicholas Muk Ka-chun, a history teacher. Pui Kiu Middle School hosts lectures taught by space experts every year.
"I would ask Lai how she turned her dream into reality, because I also want to fly a space mission someday," said a student surnamed Cheung in her senior year.
Having a payload specialist sent into space attests to Hong Kong's strengths in fields like information technology and artificial intelligence, said Wong Kam-fai, associate dean of the Faculty of Engineering at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Inspired by Lai, a growing number of Hong Kong scientists will play their parts in the country's space exploration programs in the future, he said.
John Lee, chief executive of the HKSAR, expressed gratitude to the country for its support for and trust in the HKSAR. "We are deeply inspired by this moment of extraordinary significance," he said.
The Shenzhou-23 crewed spaceship is scheduled to be launched at 11:08 p.m. Sunday Beijing Time from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China. Lai said she is ready to venture into space.
"The can-do ethos of Hong Kong keeps me going," said Lai. ■
