Pakistan is moving closer to sending its first astronaut into space, with two Pakistani pilots undergoing intensive training in China for a mission aboard the Tiangong space station.
Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud have spent months training at China’s Astronaut Research and Training Centre in Beijing. They are learning Mandarin, studying spacecraft systems and preparing for the physical demands of launch and microgravity.
Only one of the two candidates will ultimately be selected for the mission. A final decision is expected in mid-to-late October, while the mission is planned for later this year.
The selected astronaut will serve as a payload specialist rather than operate the spacecraft. The role will involve conducting Pakistan’s scientific experiments during an expected short stay aboard Tiangong.
The mission follows a cooperation agreement signed by China and Pakistan in 2025, under which Beijing agreed to help train Pakistani astronauts.
Pakistan is also preparing an indigenous lunar rover for China’s Chang’e-8 mission, planned for around 2028.
If the mission goes ahead, the selected pilot would become Pakistan’s first astronaut and the first foreign astronaut to visit China’s Tiangong space station, marking a significant milestone in the country’s human spaceflight programme.
