BEIJING, September 29, 2026: China is preparing to send a Pakistani astronaut to its Tiangong space station, marking a planned first for China’s crewed space program, according to Reuters.
Two Pakistani pilots, Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud, are undergoing training in Beijing. The final astronaut is expected to be selected by mid-to-late October 2026.
Scientific experiments
The selected astronaut is expected to serve as a payload specialist during a mission lasting about a week. Reuters reported that four biotechnology experiments have been selected from more than 300 proposals submitted by Pakistani universities.
China-Pakistan space cooperation
The mission is part of wider space cooperation between China and Pakistan, which includes satellite launches, navigation technology and plans involving lunar exploration.
Pakistan is also preparing an AI-enabled lunar rover for China’s Chang’e 8 mission planned for 2028, according to Reuters.
International participation
The planned mission would expand international participation in China’s Tiangong program and provide another example of China using its space infrastructure for international scientific cooperation.
Source: Reuters.
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