CHINA / SOCIETY
Send-off ceremony held for Chinese astronauts of Shenzhou-23 mission
By Xinhua Published: May 24, 2026 10:02 PM
A send-off ceremony for the three Chinese astronauts of the Shenzhou-23 crewed space mission was held Sunday at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China.

Astronauts Zhu Yangzhu, Zhang Zhiyuan and Li Jiaying, or Lai Ka-ying in Cantonese, set off at 8:18 p.m. (Beijing Time).

The Shenzhou-21 crew has stayed in the orbiting Tiangong space station for more than 200 days and is in good physical and mental condition. They are preparing for the arrival of the Shenzhou-23 crew.

The Shenzhou-23 crewed spaceship is scheduled to be launched at 11:08 p.m. Sunday.

A send-off ceremony for the three Chinese astronauts of the Shenzhou-23 crewed space mission is held at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, May 24, 2026. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen)

A send-off ceremony for the three Chinese astronauts of the Shenzhou-23 crewed space mission is held at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, May 24, 2026. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen)


Chinese astronauts Zhu Yangzhu (R), Zhang Zhiyuan (C) and Li Jiaying attend the send-off ceremony at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, May 24, 2026. A send-off ceremony for the three Chinese astronauts of the Shenzhou-23 crewed space mission was held here on Sunday. (Xinhua/Cai Yang)

Chinese astronauts Zhu Yangzhu (R), Zhang Zhiyuan (C) and Li Jiaying attend the send-off ceremony at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, May 24, 2026. A send-off ceremony for the three Chinese astronauts of the Shenzhou-23 crewed space mission was held here on Sunday. (Xinhua/Cai Yang)



A send-off ceremony for the three Chinese astronauts of the Shenzhou-23 crewed space mission is held at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, May 24, 2026. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen)

A send-off ceremony for the three Chinese astronauts of the Shenzhou-23 crewed space mission is held at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, May 24, 2026. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen)



A send-off ceremony for the three Chinese astronauts of the Shenzhou-23 crewed space mission is held at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, May 24, 2026. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen)

A send-off ceremony for the three Chinese astronauts of the Shenzhou-23 crewed space mission is held at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, May 24, 2026. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen)




A send-off ceremony for the three Chinese astronauts of the Shenzhou-23 crewed space mission is held at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, May 24, 2026. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen)

A send-off ceremony for the three Chinese astronauts of the Shenzhou-23 crewed space mission is held at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, May 24, 2026. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen)



A send-off ceremony for the three Chinese astronauts of the Shenzhou-23 crewed space mission is held at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, May 24, 2026. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen)

A send-off ceremony for the three Chinese astronauts of the Shenzhou-23 crewed space mission is held at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, May 24, 2026. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen)



A send-off ceremony for the three Chinese astronauts of the Shenzhou-23 crewed space mission is held at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, May 24, 2026. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen)

A send-off ceremony for the three Chinese astronauts of the Shenzhou-23 crewed space mission is held at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, May 24, 2026. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen)



A send-off ceremony for the three Chinese astronauts of the Shenzhou-23 crewed space mission is held at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, May 24, 2026. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen)

A send-off ceremony for the three Chinese astronauts of the Shenzhou-23 crewed space mission is held at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, May 24, 2026. (Xinhua/Lian Zhen)