China to Train Pakistani Astronauts

Pakistan is preparing to take a historic leap into space exploration as two individuals will be selected this month under the Pakistan Astronaut Programme to undergo one year of astronaut training at the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA).

Upon completing their training, the two astronauts are expected to spend a week aboard China’s Tiangong Space Station in October 2026, marking Pakistan’s first human space mission.

To support this milestone, the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) invited scientific experiment proposals from researchers across the country. Out of the submissions, 300 experiments have been shortlisted for potential inclusion in the mission.

Earlier this year, Suparco signed a cooperation agreement with the CMSA, laying the groundwork for Pakistan’s first astronaut mission to the Chinese Space Station. According to official sources, the selected astronauts will receive training at the Astronaut Centre of China, with one trainee designated as a scientific payload specialist to conduct experiments in space.

The astronaut selection process began in April 2025, and the upcoming mission will focus on advanced scientific research in multiple disciplines — including aerospace, biomedical science, material physics, ecology, microgravity studies, and astronomy.

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According to Suparco, the China Space Station is equipped with cutting-edge experimental facilities and external adaptors that allow for research across several domains. The data collected is expected to contribute to medical innovation, environmental monitoring, and technological progress, benefitting scientific advancement on Earth.

Earlier this month, Pakistan and China agreed to expand their cooperation in space science and technology, emphasizing astronaut training and the establishment of a Pakistan Space Centre. The initiative is part of the 2025–2029 Action Plan for strengthening bilateral collaboration in the “new era.”

Both countries reaffirmed their commitment to the 2021–2030 Space Cooperation Outline, which includes joint lunar and deep space exploration and potential participation in the International Lunar Research Station project.

The latest developments not only advance Pakistan’s ambitions in human spaceflight but also mark a new chapter in its long-standing strategic partnership with China, paving the way for future collaboration in space technology and exploration.

Reference Link:- https://propakistani.pk/2025/10/04/china-to-train-pakistani-astronauts/;

Prof. Engr. Zamir Ahmed Awan Founder & Chair, Global Silk Route Research Alliance

Zamir Ahmed Awan is the founder and Chair of the Global Silk Route Research Alliance, a think tank in Islamabad. He studied engineering at Shanghai University in the 1980s, and years later he went back to China as Pakistan's science counsellor in Beijing, from 2010 until 2016, working on science and higher education cooperation between the two countries.…

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