China selected the first astronaut candidates from its special administrative areas of Macau and Hong Kong on Tuesday, with the latter hailing the announcement as a “glorious page” in its history.
Beijing has invested billions of dollars in its military-run space program, with grandiose aspirations for a manned lunar landing by 2030.
The China Manned Space Agency said Tuesday that a payload specialist from Hong Kong and another from Macau were among the ten candidates for the country’s fourth batch of astronauts.
Hong Kong leader John Lee called it “a glorious page in Hong Kong’s history”.
“This is… the first time that a Hong Kong citizen was selected as a payload specialist in China’s manned space programme, with a chance to become an astronaut to go to space in person, to participate in research and to contribute the country’s space programme,” Lee said.
The Macau government also issued a statement on Tuesday, calling the selection of one of its own “an honour” that delivered “a strong inspirational message to the young people of Macau”.
The China Manned Space Agency stated that local communities have enthusiastically supported the selection of astronauts from both territories.
Under Chinese President Xi Jinping, plans for the country’s “space dream” have been accelerated.
Beijing has made significant investments in its space program over the last decade, attempting to catch up with the United States and Russia after years of falling behind their milestones.
The country scored a victory this month when its spacecraft carrying samples from the far side of the Moon began its trek back to Earth.
Other accomplishments included constructing a space station named Tiangong, or “heavenly palace,” as well as landing robotic rovers on Mars and the Moon.
China intends to deploy a crewed expedition to the Moon by 2030 and establish a base on the lunar surface.