Lai Ka-ying
Hong Kong astronaut (born 1982)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lai Ka-ying (Chinese: 黎家盈; pinyin: Lí Jiāyíng; Jyutping: Lai4 Gaa1jing4; born November 1982) is a Hong Kong astronaut participating in the Shenzhou 23 mission to the Tiangong space station. A former superintendent in the Hong Kong Police Force, she is the first Hong Kong resident[a] of Hong Kong SAR to travel to space, as well as China's first female payload specialist. she also considered to be the second Hong Kong born astronaut after William Bill Anders during British Hong Kong.
Lai Ka-ying | |
|---|---|
黎家盈 | |
Lai Ka-ying in 2026 | |
| Born | November 1982 (age 43) |
| Education | University of Hong Kong (BSc, MPhil, PhD) |
| Space career | |
| PLAAC astronaut | |
Previous occupation | Superintendent, Hong Kong Police Force |
| Status | Active |
Time in space | 2 days, 13 hours, 42 minutes (currently in space) |
| Selection | Chinese Group 4 (2022) |
| Missions | Shenzhou 23 |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Computer science |
| Thesis | Profiling internet pirates. (2011) |
| Chow Kam-pui | |
Biography
Lai was born in British Hong Kong in November 1982. She has family roots in Shunde, Guangdong, China.[1] She majored in computer science and information systems at the University of Hong Kong, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in 2004, and later pursued a Master of Philosophy from 2004 to 2006 and earned a doctorate in 2011, both from the University of Hong Kong, specializing in computer forensics.[2][3]
She later joined the information technology division of the Hong Kong Police Force, where she reached the rank of superintendent.[4]
Reports in May 2024 stated that a female Hong Kong police officer with a doctorate in computer science and experience in information technology had been selected as a payload specialist in China's fourth group of astronauts. The reports stated that she had been seconded to the Security Bureau and sent to Beijing for astronaut training.[5]
In 2026, Lai was assigned to the Shenzhou 23 mission of the China Manned Space Program. The mission launched on May 24, 2026, with Lai serving as the mission's payload specialist.[6] She is also the first astronaut from China's fourth astronaut selection group to fly on a spaceflight mission.[6]
See also
- List of Chinese astronauts
- William Anders
- Hong Kong Astronomical Society
- Sky Observers' Association (HK)
- Hong Kong Astronomical Journal
Notes
- Bill Anders, who flew on Apollo 8, was born in Hong Kong to American parents, but left as an infant and did not acquire residence in Hong Kong.