The first foreign astronaut to visit China’s Tiangong space station will be a Pakistani astronaut, thanks to a major cooperation agreement inked between China and Pakistan. This momentous action is a component of a larger initiative to improve the two countries’ space exploration capacity and reinforce bilateral ties.
Two Pakistani astronauts will receive extensive training at the Astronaut Centre of China as part of the deal, which was seen by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. In order to prepare for specialised research on board the China Space Station (CSS), one of these astronauts will receive training as a scientific payload specialist. By 2026, the selection process should be finished, and a scheduled mission will follow soon after.
The mission will entail performing advanced scientific
This partnership demonstrates China’s expanding influence in global space diplomacy in addition to the longstanding strategic connections between China and Pakistan. Learning Chinese and adjusting to microgravity conditions—which present major difficulties for space travelers—will be part of the training procedure for Pakistani astronauts.
Completed in late 2022, the Tiangong space station can accommodate up to three astronauts for prolonged stays at a maximum orbital altitude of 450 km.
With possible long-term advantages for Pakistan’s human spaceflight and exploration missions, this collaboration is regarded as a significant milestone in the country’s space adventure.
The deal is anticipated to strengthen Pakistan’s technological innovation and capacity building and underscores China’s commitment to extending international cooperation in space exploration, especially with poor nations.
