Pakistan set to send first foreign astronaut to China's space station

Beijing: China and Pakistan are set to achieve a major milestone in space exploration, with Pakistan preparing to send the first foreign astronaut to China's home-built Tiangong space station. A Pakistani citizen will travel to space as part of China's Shenzhou-24 mission. The mission is the outcome of a landmark space cooperation agreement signed between the two countries in February 2025.

The representatives for the mission were selected through Pakistan's national space agency, the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO). Two candidates, Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Dawood, are currently undergoing rigorous training in China alongside Chinese astronauts. One of them will be selected for the mission after completing the training. The Pakistani representative will serve as a payload specialist, with key responsibilities including conducting scientific experiments, carrying out technological research and analysing data aboard the space station.

This will also mark the first time a representative from a foreign country has travelled to China's Tiangong space station. The mission marks another significant step in China-Pakistan space cooperation following the launch of Pakistan's iCube-Q satellite aboard China's historic Chang'e-6 lunar mission. Through this initiative, China aims to strengthen its scientific and technological ties with its neighbouring country while consolidating its influence in the international space sector. The mission is being viewed as a major leap forward in Pakistan's space research history.