On May 24, 2023, China launched its Shenzhou-23 mission, marking a significant milestone in its space exploration efforts. The Long March 2-F rocket took off from the Jiuquan launch center in the Gobi Desert, successfully sending an astronaut into orbit for a full year—the first time this has been attempted by China. The mission is part of China's broader goal to achieve a crewed moon landing by 2030, competing closely with the United States, which aims for a lunar presence by 2028. The crew includes Li Jiaying, a former Hong Kong police inspector, making her the first astronaut from Hong Kong to join a Chinese space mission. The Shenzhou-23 mission will involve critical research on the effects of long-duration space travel, including studies on radiation exposure and psychological stress. Additionally, it will prepare for future lunar missions by executing autonomous docking procedures with the Tiangong space station. China's lunar ambitions include establishing a permanent base on the moon by 2035, in collaboration with Russia, as it continues to advance its space capabilities.