Hong Kong astronaut Lai Jiaying brings over 20 handwritten family letters and her children’s drawings aboard the Shenzhou-23 mission, highlighting the human side of spaceflight.
Chinese astronaut Lai Jiaying will carry more than scientific equipment when she flies aboard the Shenzhou-23 mission. She will also bring something far more personal: handwritten letters and drawings from her children.
The Hong Kong-born payload specialist said she packed over 20 letters from her family, along with drawings made by her children, to accompany her during the mission.
“When I miss them, I can take out the letters and drawings and look at them,” Lai said in remarks broadcast by Chinese state media.
Before joining China’s astronaut program, Lai worked for the Hong Kong police force. In 2024, she was selected for China’s first astronaut recruitment program open to candidates from Hong Kong and Macao.
Since then, she has completed more than 200 training tasks and logged over 1,700 hours of preparation. She is now set to become the first astronaut from Hong Kong and the fourth Chinese woman to travel to space.
Meanwhile, her journey highlights a more human side of the Shenzhou-23 mission. Other crew members will also bring personal items into orbit.
Commander Zhu Yangzhu packed two traditional Chinese gourds, symbols of blessing and good fortune, along with a family photo album. Astronaut Zhang Zhiyuan also brought family letters and small zodiac-themed dolls representing his family.
The Shenzhou-23 crew will also deliver fresh fruits and vegetables to astronauts currently aboard China’s space station.
If you liked this article, why not read: China Opens New Chapter in Human Spaceflight Research
