Thai King and Queen Make Historic Video Call to Chinese Space Station
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The King and Queen of Thailand made history by becoming the first visiting heads of state to speak directly with astronauts aboard China's Tiangong space station. The video call took place on Sunday during the royal couple's official visit to Beijing.
King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida smiled and waved to the astronauts, who appeared on a large screen from the orbiting station. The event marks an unprecedented moment for China's human spaceflight program.
The 73-year-old King is a trained military pilot and a known aviation enthusiast. The Chinese space station's name, Tiangong, translates to "Heavenly Palace" in English.