SAR astronauts gear up for debut mission

Chinese astronauts selected from the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions are expected to carry out their first spaceflight as early as 2026, a senior official said on Wednesday.

Lin Xiqiang, deputy director of the China Manned Space Agency, said at a news conference at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwestern China that the two astronauts have adapted well to life and training at the Astronaut Center of China in Beijing since arriving in August.

"They have been getting along well with other astronauts and training diligently and hard," Lin said. "They are learning knowledge and skills to be used in space missions. As science payload specialists, one of them will take part in their first mission as early as 2026."