In April 2026, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) announced that it has selected two Pakistani candidates ‘Muhammad Zeeshan Ali’ and ‘Khurram Daud’ for astronaut training under China’s human spaceflight programme, marking a major milestone in China–Pakistan space cooperation.
- This also represents China’s first inclusion of foreign astronauts, with one expected to become the first Pakistani to reach Earth’s orbit and visit the Tiangong space station.
About Pakistan–China Space Mission:
Selection: Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud were chosen as reserve astronauts after multiple rounds and will undergo advanced training in China, with one to be selected as a payload specialist for a future Tiangong mission to conduct scientific experiments, technology demonstrations, and research.
Agreement: The collaboration strengthens China’s space diplomacy and global outreach while enabling Pakistan’s entry into human spaceflight and boosting its scientific and technological capabilities.
Background: The selection follows a February 2025 agreement between China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) and Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) covering astronaut training, experiments, and mission collaboration.
No comments yet. Be the first!