Pakistan is set to send its first astronaut into space with China to the Tiangong Space Station – marking a landmark achievement in Pakistan’s quest to explore space.
According to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA), two Pakistani astronauts will undergo joint training at the Astronaut Centre of China, with one astronaut selected for a short-term mission.
The selected astronaut will serve as a payload specialist aboard Tiangong Space Station under the supervision of Chinese mission commanders.
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China’s state news agency Xinhua reported this development after Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) and CMSA signed a landmark cooperation agreement earlier this year.
Pakistan will now participate in China’s manned space program, marking a further expansion of scientific, technological, and strategic cooperation between these longstanding allies.
Officials recently disclosed that astronaut selection began in April 2025, with candidates evaluated against stringent technical skills evaluations, medical fitness evaluations, and psychological endurance tests.
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Pakistan will conduct its inaugural human spaceflight sometime next year, joining an elite group of Asian nations in sending astronauts into space.
Chinese and Pakistani space experts have described the initiative as a significant achievement that builds regional collaboration while expanding Asia’s presence in global space exploration.
This training program seeks to equip Pakistan with the technical know-how required for future space research, satellite development and long-term missions conducted jointly with China.
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Analysts anticipate this cooperation will accelerate Pakistan’s goals under SUPARCO’s Vision 2040 plan, which envisions greater participation in international space projects and innovation in space science.
