Pakistan and China have taken another significant step in strengthening their longstanding friendship, with a Pakistani astronaut set to travel to China’s space station as part of a joint space mission.
The development marks a new chapter in Pakistan’s scientific and technological progress, as the country prepares to make history through its participation in China’s ambitious space programme.
According to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA), the first Pakistani astronaut will travel to the Chinese space station aboard the Shenzhou-24 spacecraft. The astronaut will later return to Earth aboard the Shenzhou-23 spacecraft, according to the agency.
The mission will be the first joint spaceflight involving Chinese and Pakistani astronauts in the history of China’s space programme, highlighting the growing cooperation between the two countries in space exploration and scientific research.
In February 2025, Pakistan and China signed a cooperation agreement to enable Pakistan’s participation in a mission to the Chinese space station. The agreement laid the groundwork for selecting Pakistani candidates to take part in the historic mission.
According to the CMSA, two Pakistani astronauts were shortlisted after undergoing preliminary, secondary and final rounds of rigorous screening and evaluation.
Following their selection, both candidates completed various training programmes in China and underwent a series of assessments to determine their suitability for the mission.
After successfully completing the required training and passing all the tests, one of the two Pakistani astronauts will be selected to undertake the space mission.
The development is being viewed as an important milestone in Pakistan-China cooperation, opening new opportunities for Pakistan in human spaceflight, advanced scientific research and technological development.
