The SAR's first astronaut, Lai Ka-ying, made a virtual return to her alma mater on Wednesday morning, beaming in from the Tiangong Space Station for a live educational lecture that captivated students across Hong Kong and Macao.

The event, part of the "Tiangong Class" Hong Kong and Macao Designated Session, took place at Tsuen Wan Public Ho Chuen Yiu Memorial College and gave young viewers a rare glimpse into life aboard the space station.

Alongside her Shenzhou-23 crewmates, Zhu Yangzhu and Zhang Zhiyuan, Lai led a 90-minute interactive tour, showcasing in-orbit demonstrations and offering an intimate look at their daily routines.

As a payload specialist, Lai drew particular attention when she gave students a tour of her sleeping quarters and presented the surprisingly diverse menu available to the crew.

"The science and technology teams on the ground have prepared a wide variety of nutritious and well-balanced recipes for us. There are staple foods like rice, noodles, and bread, as well as dozens of speciality dishes like braised pork, Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, Kung Pao Chicken, black pepper beef fillet, and many more," she said.

"There are also various types of dehydrated vegetables; after adding water, they look like this...very healthy and delicious. We also make our own yoghurt here. The variety of food is truly diverse."

During a lively question and answer session, one student asked what motivated her to apply for the national payload specialist programme.

Lai admitted she hadn’t dreamt of becoming an astronaut as a child, but when she learned that mainland authorities were, for the first time, opening the selection process to candidates from Hong Kong and Macao, she knew she had to seize the chance.

"Looking back now, my educational background, scientific research training, and work experience, have all been important factors that enabled me to seize this opportunity," she said.

"So I hope that students will always prepare yourselves well in your daily lives. When an opportunity comes, be brave and actively go after it."

Also present at the dialogue was Chief Executive John Lee, who noted that many students had written letters to Lai during her mission.

Lai said that training and life in orbit can sometimes feel isolating and difficult, but she draws strength from the trust placed in her and is determined to complete her mission with full dedication.

In his opening remarks, Lee praised Lai’s achievement as proof that Hongkongers can play a direct role in national space endeavours — and that the dream of space flight is within reach for those bold enough to pursue it.

He also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening science education and outreach, urging broader community participation in the city’s growing aerospace enthusiasm.



Edited by Tony Sabine