Two Pakistani Candidates to Train at China’s Astronaut Centre
BEIJING: China is set to send a Pakistani astronaut on a short-duration mission to its space station, state news agency Xinhua reported on Thursday.
According to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA), two Pakistani candidates will train alongside Chinese taikonauts, with one selected as a payload specialist for the brief spaceflight.
Earlier this year, Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) signed a cooperation agreement with CMSA, paving the way for the country’s first astronauts to travel to Tiangong, the Chinese Space Station (CSS).
As part of this historic agreement, the two Pakistani astronauts will receive training at China’s Astronaut Centre. One will be designated as a scientific payload specialist, preparing to conduct specialized research aboard the CSS.
The selection process for Pakistan’s astronauts began in April 2025.
The mission will focus on advanced scientific experiments across multiple fields, including biological and medical sciences, aerospace, applied physics, fluid mechanics, space radiation, ecology, material sciences, microgravity studies, and astronomy.
CMSA stated that the China Space Station is equipped with advanced experimental racks and external adapters, enabling comprehensive research in these areas.
Results from these experiments are expected to contribute to medical research, environmental monitoring, and space technology, with applications benefiting life on Earth.
Earlier this month, Pakistan and China agreed to strengthen cooperation in space sciences, focusing on astronaut training and establishing a Pakistan Space Centre under a five-year action plan.
This initiative is part of the Action Plan (2025–2029) to deepen China-Pakistan collaboration in space and scientific research.
Both countries will continue to implement the 2021–2030 Space Cooperation Outline Program, signed by the China National Space Administration and Suparco.
They reaffirmed their commitment to joint lunar and deep space exploration, including work on the International Lunar Research Station and collaboration in advanced space technologies.
The action plan will support the joint selection and training of astronauts, potentially paving the way for Pakistan’s future human spaceflight missions in partnership with China.
