Islamabad, April 24, 2025 — In a landmark achievement for Pakistan’s space program, a Pakistani astronaut will soon embark on a groundbreaking journey to China’s Tiangong space station, marking the first time a foreign national will join a mission aboard the orbiting outpost. This historic collaboration between Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) and the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) underscores the deepening ties between the two nations in space exploration.
The astronaut, whose identity remains undisclosed pending final selection, will serve as a payload specialist, tasked with conducting scientific experiments and managing operational duties during the mission. SUPARCO has initiated a rigorous three-stage selection process, beginning with preliminary evaluations in Pakistan, followed by secondary and final stages in China. Candidates, expected to hold advanced degrees and possess aviation experience, will undergo specialized training at China’s Astronaut Centre by 2026.
This mission builds on a February 2025 agreement signed during a high-level meeting in Islamabad, where Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hailed China as a “strategic partner” in advancing Pakistan’s space ambitions. The collaboration follows Pakistan’s successful launch of the ICUBE-Q lunar satellite aboard China’s Chang’e-6 mission in 2024, which collected samples from the moon’s far side.
Amjad Ali, SUPARCO’s deputy director, described the opportunity as a “milestone” for Pakistan’s 60-year-old space program, emphasizing its potential to inspire a new generation of scientists and engineers. The astronaut will conduct experiments in fields such as microgravity studies, applied physics, and biological sciences, contributing to both nations’ research goals.
China’s Tiangong station, operational since 2022, orbits 400 kilometers above Earth and has hosted multiple Chinese crews. This mission represents a bold step in China’s space diplomacy, as it opens its program to international partners amid global competition in space exploration. The Pakistani astronaut’s journey, expected to align with Tiangong’s crew rotation schedule post-2026, symbolizes a shared vision for scientific discovery and technological advancement.
As Pakistan prepares for this historic endeavor, the nation celebrates a new chapter in its space journey, with hopes of fostering innovation and international cooperation in the final frontier.
