Two astronauts from China's Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions have demonstrated exceptional resilience during intensive preparatory training, according to a Thursday announcement by the China Manned Space Agency. The development marks a significant step in expanding regional participation in China's ambitious space program.
Spokesperson Zhang Jingbo confirmed both candidates completed desert survival drills, emergency evacuation simulations, and psychological conditioning designed to replicate extreme spaceflight conditions. Their physical fitness and mission-specific skills showed marked improvement throughout the program.
"They've not only mastered theoretical space science fundamentals but also integrated seamlessly into our astronaut team," Zhang stated during a press briefing. The trainees will now advance to specialized technical instruction ahead of potential missions.
"We look forward to their remarkable debut," Zhang added, highlighting the program's emphasis on cross-regional collaboration.
This initiative aligns with China's broader strategy to strengthen scientific cooperation across regions while developing next-generation space exploration capabilities.
