Pakistan announces first astronaut mission to Chinese space station, sets 2035 moon-landing goal
Representational image. (Image courtesy: Wikimedia)
New Delhi: Pakistan is all set to send its first astronaut to China’s space station on November 25, the Pakistani planning minister, Ahsan Iqbal, announced on Sunday. He also highlighted Pakistan’s ambition to reach the Moon by 2035, highlighting the country’s plans to expand its presence in space exploration.
The November mission is expected to involve one Pakistani candidate joining China’s Tiangong space station for a short-term flight. The astronaut will work as a payload specialist, a role that involves supporting scientific experiments rather than operating the spacecraft as its commander.
Iqbal disclosed the information at the conclusion of World Space Week 2026 in Narowal. Iqbal explained that collaboration with China would be beneficial for Pakistan in developing its space program and revealed the idea of creating a Space Museum in the University of Narowal to stimulate students’ interest in science and technology, as reported by Radio Pakistan.
RNA Media had earlier reported, that China had started training two Pakistani candidates, Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud, for future space missions. The two were selected in April after completing the selection process under China’s human spaceflight programme, and one will be chosen to undertake the planned flight.
The training is designed to prepare both candidates for the demands of a space mission, including aerospace operations and communication in Chinese. Their selection followed an agreement signed by Suparco and the China Manned Space Agency in February 2025 to enable Pakistani participation in China’s human spaceflight programme.
The planned flight is one part of a wider partnership between Islamabad and Beijing in space technology. China is also expected to carry a Pakistani lunar rover on its Chang’e-8 mission, planned for around 2028, giving Pakistan an opportunity to contribute to lunar exploration.
Astronaut mission and lunar rover proposed by the country give chances to Pakistan in terms of learning from their expertise in space research. The project helps in the interest of China in terms of fostering collaboration with a strategic ally in the sphere of space while paving ways to participate in their space station and moon missions projects.
