Hong Kong's first astronaut teaches space science live from orbit to students

Hong Kong's first astronaut Lai Ka-ying has conducted a 90-minute live space lesson from orbit, greeting students at her former school in Cantonese and demonstrating scientific experiments to classrooms across the city.

Lai and her two Shenzhou-23 crew members, mission commander Colonel Zhu Yangzhu and Zhang Zhiyuan, took part in the "Tiangong Class" broadcast to Tsuen Wan Public Ho Chuen Yiu Memorial College, where Lai studied. The session was streamed live on television and transmitted to campuses across Hong Kong and Macau.

Space demonstrations follow Chinese tradition

The astronauts addressed students directly, with Lai speaking in Cantonese to pupils and Chief Executive John Lee. During the lesson, Lai demonstrated a spinning top, continuing the tradition established in previous Chinese space lectures in which astronaut Gui Haichao and his crewmates used everyday objects to explain physics in orbit.

Representatives from Hong Kong's youth sector and innovation and technology community attended the event at the college, along with a visiting delegation from Macau. The session featured an expert lecture, in-orbit demonstrations and a question-and-answer segment designed to showcase the space environment.

Government launches astronomy education push

Speaking at the college, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu announced the government would begin astronomy-themed popular science education and promotion, urging the public to actively participate in the activities.

The event was jointly organised by the Hong Kong and Macau governments and the China Manned Space Agency.

Source: South China Morning Post