A send-off ceremony for the Young Astronaut Training Camp 2026 was held at the Hong Kong Science Museum today (July 16). Thirty selected secondary students will set off for Beijing, Jiuquan, and Xi'an from July 23 to July 31 for a nine-day training programme. They will visit key aerospace science and astronomical facilities and have opportunities to meet with aerospace experts and astronauts to learn more about the development of the country's aerospace programmes and its distinguished achievements.

      Addressing the send-off ceremony, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, said that with the strong support of the country, Dr Lai Ka-ying, the first payload expert from Hong Kong, was selected to participate in the Shenzhou-23 manned spaceflight mission, becoming the first astronaut from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. All Hong Kong citizens and he felt thrilled and proud. Mr Chan encouraged the participants of the Young Astronaut Training Camp to seize this hard-won opportunity, to strive to equip themselves well during this journey, and to one day, in various ways, represent the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in participating in the national space endeavours, thereby applying what they have learned to contribute to the society.

     ​Officiating guests included the Second-level Investigation and Research Officer of the Education and Youth Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Dr Yan Weizhi; Vice-Chairman of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce Mr Ricky Tsang; the Acting Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Raistlin Lau; the Chairman of the Museum Advisory Committee, Professor Douglas So; the Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Ms Manda Chan; the President of the Beijing-Hong Kong Academic Exchange Centre, Mr Hsu Hoi-shan; Vice-Chairman of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce Mr Charles Cheung; and the Museum Director of the Hong Kong Science Museum, Mr Patrick Lau.

     Launched in 2009, the Young Astronaut Training Camp has entered its 15th edition, with a total of 420 students participating over the years. The recruitment this year started in March and received an overwhelming response. After three rounds of the selection process, which included a quiz, a three-day training camp and an interview, 30 students from Secondary Two to Secondary Five were selected as Young Astronauts out of around 200 applicants from more than 110 secondary schools.

     The participants will visit various aerospace and astronomical facilities, including the China Astronaut Research and Training Center and the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center. Students will learn more about the selection and training processes of astronauts, and acquire first-hand experience of astronaut training and aerospace medicine projects. This year's programme marks the first visit to the Academy of Aerospace Propulsion Technology, where participants will look at the research and development of rocket engines. They will also visit the Xinglong Observatory of the National Astronomical Observatories to view large-scale optical telescopes, including the Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope, and to have a deeper understanding our country's cutting-edge astronomical research.

     The training camp is jointly presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, in association with the China Space Foundation and the Beijing-Hong Kong Academic Exchange Centre. It is organised by the Hong Kong Space Museum and sponsored by the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce. For details of the training camp, please visit the website of the Hong Kong Space Museum at hk.space.museum/en/web/spm/activities/yatc.html. 
The camp is also one of the programmes under the Chinese Culture Promotion Series.

Ends/Thursday, July 16, 2026
Issued at HKT 18:17

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