China has successfully launched three astronauts into space aboard the Shenzhou-23 spacecraft, marking a significant step in its lunar ambitions. The mission, which took off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center using the Long March-2F Y23 rocket, aims to explore the effects of long-duration spaceflight on human adaptability. Among the crew is Lai Ka-ying, the first astronaut from Hong Kong to join a Chinese space mission. One astronaut will remain on the Tiangong space station for a year, contributing to one of China's longest missions, though still shorter than the 14-and-a-half-month record set by a Russian cosmonaut. This launch occurs amid a renewed space race between China and the United States, with both nations striving for lunar exploration milestones. China aims for a crewed lunar landing by 2030, with plans to establish a permanent base on the Moon by 2035, in collaboration with Russia. The Shenzhou-23 mission will also conduct studies on the physiological impacts of space travel, including radiation exposure and psychological effects, as part of preparations for future lunar missions.