Pakistan’s Giant Leap: Astronauts to Train in China

Pakistan is set to make history by selecting two astronauts for its inaugural manned space mission, in collaboration with China. The China Manned Space Engineering Office (CMSA) confirmed that the chosen astronauts will train at the Astronaut Centre of China, marking Pakistan as the first foreign nation to participate in China’s space station training program.​

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced this groundbreaking initiative in February, emphasizing the strategic partnership between Pakistan and China. He highlighted the importance of advancing space technology, particularly during discussions with Galaxy Space, a prominent Chinese space technology company.​

Pakistan’s space agency, Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Comission (SUPARCO), has invited proposals for innovative experiments to be conducted aboard the Tiangong Space Station, aiming to maximize the mission’s scientific impact. The selection process for the astronauts will occur in three stages: an initial phase in Pakistan, followed by secondary and final selections in China. The selected astronaut will serve as a payload specialist, conducting experiments on behalf of Pakistan.​

This collaboration signifies a significant milestone in Pakistan’s space exploration endeavors and strengthens its longstanding partnership with China.