China News Service, Hong Kong, November 11 (Reporter Han Xingtong) The national manned space program delegation arrived in Hong Kong on November 28 and held a media conference on the same day. Lin Xiqiang, deputy director of the China Manned Space Engineering Office, released a panoramic photo of the space station assembly taken by the Shenzhou-28 crew around the spacecraft with a high-definition camera before returning to the ground.
Shenzhou-16 astronauts take panoramic images of the space station assembly Source: China Manned Space WeChat official account
The delegation was led by Lin Xiqiang, including astronaut Liu Boming of the Shenzhou-17 crew, Wang Yaping, astronaut of the Shenzhou-<> crew, Chen Dong, commander of the Shenzhou-<> crew, Zhang Lu, astronaut of the Shenzhou-<> crew, and experts in the field of manned spaceflight engineering systems.
Lin Xiqiang said that the main purpose of the delegation's visit was to report the latest progress of the national manned space program to Hong Kong and Macao compatriots, share the joy of the successful completion of the construction of China's space station, and promote more participation in the manned space industry in Hong Kong and Macao. During their stay in Hong Kong, the delegation will inaugurate the China Manned Space Engineering Exhibition and meet with Hong Kong's I&T sector, teachers and students from primary and secondary schools.
Shenzhou-16 astronauts take panoramic images of the space station assembly Source: China Manned Space WeChat official account
At the media conference, Lin Xiqiang released a panoramic photo of the space station assembly taken by the Shenzhou-16 crew through the spacecraft orbiting with a high-definition camera before returning to the ground. He said that this is the first time that China has obtained a full picture of the space station assembly with the earth as the background in orbit, and it is also the first set of full-configuration working photos of China's space station.
Lin Xiqiang said that with the continuous development of the national aerospace project, the participation of Hong Kong and Macao is becoming wider and deeper, and the elements of Hong Kong and Macao in major national aerospace projects and the contribution of Hong Kong and Macao are also increasing. He mentioned that the country's fourth batch of reserve astronaut selection work is organized and implemented in accordance with the three stages of primary selection, secondary selection and final selection, and plans to select 12 to 14 reserve astronauts, which has been completed in August this year, and a total of 8 people have entered the final selection stage, including a number of candidates from Hong Kong and Macao.
Shenzhou-16 astronauts take panoramic images of the space station assembly Source: China Manned Space WeChat official account
Chen Dong believes that through this kind of selection, the enthusiasm of young people in Hong Kong and Macao to love, learn, and use science can be stimulated, and at the same time, the development of science and technology in Hong Kong and Macao can be stimulated. He said that China's space station is national, open, and diverse, and there should be representatives of Hong Kong and Macao, with their participation and presence, which can make the country's home in space more lively and happier.
The manned space engineering delegation arrived at the Hong Kong International Airport at noon on 28 June to begin a six-day visit to Hong Kong and Macao. The Chief Secretary for Administration of the HKSAR Government, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, the Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Lu Xinning, the Acting Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Li Yongsheng, and the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs of the HKSAR Government, Ms Mak Mei-kuen, greeted him at the airport. (ENDS)