China's space diplomacy lifts Pakistani astronaut toward orbit
The mission will carry four Pakistani biotechnology experiments chosen from more than 300 university proposals, officials said.
- Pakistani pilots Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud are training at the China Astronaut Research and Training Center in Beijing for a mission to the Tiangong space station, with a final selection decision expected in mid-to-late October.
- This mission relies on Chinese infrastructure because Pakistan lacks its own crewed spacecraft, reflecting broader cooperation between Islamabad and Beijing that straddles the Belt and Road Initiative.
- Training includes intensive Mandarin instruction and centrifuge drills, and the chosen pilot will carry the title of "payload specialist" running biotechnology experiments selected from more than 300 university proposals.
- Whoever is selected will spend about a week aboard Tiangong, a fraction of the roughly six-month rotations of career Chinese crew members, before returning home after a recovery period.
- Cooperation extends to the Chang'e 8 lunar mission around 2028, where a Pakistani-built rover will deploy AI-based stereo imaging to navigate the lunar surface independently.
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13 Articles
Pakistan set to send first astronaut to China’s Tiangong space station
Two Pakistani pilots are undergoing intensive training in China as a decision nears on which of them will become the country’s first astronaut and the first foreign national to travel aboard China’s Tiangong space station.
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Pakistan Live NewsPakistan's space dream nears liftoff as China prepares to choose first astronaut
Pakistani pilot to spend about week on Tiangong.Would be first foreign astronaut on board Chinese station.Mission relies on Chinese spacecraft, training and launch site.Two Pakistani pilots are memorising...
China's space diplomacy lifts Pakistani astronaut toward orbit
Two Pakistani pilots are memorising Mandarin, spinning in centrifuge drills and learning to eat, sleep and repair equipment while weightless as a decision nears on which one will become the first foreign astronaut aboard China's Tiangong space station.
Pakistan's First Astronaut Selection To End As China Mission Nears
Pakistan stands at the threshold of space exploration. Two Pakistani pilots, Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud, are completing intensive training at China’s Astronaut Research and Training Centre in Beijing. Soon, one will become Pakistan’s first astronaut and the first foreign astronaut aboard China’s Tiangong space station. Final selection is expected by mid-to-late October 2026 […]
Two Pakistani pilots are currently in China, learning Mandarin, spinning rapidly in centrifuge exercises and training to eat, sleep and repair equipment while in weightless space. Which of the two pilots will become the first foreign astronaut to go to China’s space station ‘Tiangong’ is expected to be decided soon. The trip will be Pakistan’s first time in space. It is part of a wider cooperation with China, which also includes the Belt and Roa…
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