Thirty secondary school students from 28 Hong Kong schools will begin a nine-day tour of key sites in China’s space program on Friday.
The trip, officially known as the Young Astronaut Training Camp 2025, is jointly organized by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, Hong Kong, with support from Hong Kong Space Museum and the Beijing-Hong Kong Academic Exchange Centre.
The tour will take the students - 16 girls and 14 boys - to Beijing, as well as Jiuquan and Xi’an in Northwest China, where they’ll visit cutting-edge facilities, such as Beijing Aerospace City, the Xinglong Observatory of the National Astronomical Observatories and the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.
Speaking ahead of the send-off ceremony on Tuesday afternoon, Timothy Ho Man-hung, curator of Hong Kong Space Museum, said the participants, who were chosen through a rigorous three-round competition to test their knowledge, teamwork and problem-solving skills, will experience astronaut training simulations, including zero-gravity exercises and space suit trials.
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They’ll also attend lectures by aerospace experts, and engage in hands-on activities like rocket model launches.
A new addition to this year’s itinerary is the CNSA (China National Space Administration) Space Debris Observation and Data Application Center that offers fresh insights into the nation’s space advancements.
The camp will conclude on Aug 2, with participants sharing their experiences in a final debrief session.
Ho said the program is aimed at inspiring Hong Kong youth to pursue careers in science and technology, while deepening their appreciation for the nation’s achievements in space exploration.
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He said previous participants also support the camp, ensuring a dynamic and educational experience for young astronauts.
