China to train, fly Pakistani astronaut on space station stint
“Beijing will train two Pakistani astronaut candidates and send one on a short stint to China’s space station.”
Key points
- Beijing will train two Pakistani astronaut candidates and send one on a short stint to China’s space station.
- The program expands a growing China-Pakistan space partnership focused on training and research.
China announced plans to include a Pakistani astronaut in a short-duration mission to its Tiangong space station, according to state media. Under the arrangement, two Pakistani candidates will train alongside Chinese taikonauts, with one ultimately selected to fly as a payload specialist.
The move builds on a cooperation pact between Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) and the China Manned Space Agency. Officials said training would take place at the Astronaut Center of China and prepare the astronaut to conduct scientific experiments aboard Tiangong across disciplines such as life sciences, material science, microgravity research and applied physics.
The initiative is part of a broader 2025–2029 action plan deepening China-Pakistan collaboration in space, complementing a 2021–2030 cooperation outline. Both sides are also exploring joint work on lunar and deep-space projects, including assessments related to the International Lunar Research Station.
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