Meta Pakistan has taken a significant step into human space exploration after China selected two Pakistani astronauts for its manned space programme. The candidates, Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud, will travel to China for advanced astronaut training under a bilateral cooperation agreement between the two countries.
One of the astronauts will eventually be chosen for a space mission as a payload specialist, making him the first foreign astronaut to visit China’s space station, Tiangong. This marks a historic milestone in China’s expanding international space partnerships.
The selection process followed multiple rounds of screening, including medical, psychological, and aptitude assessments conducted under international spaceflight standards. Both candidates successfully passed the evaluations and were approved for training at the Astronaut Centre of China.
According to China Manned Space Agency officials, the process reflects Beijing’s commitment to international cooperation in space and the peaceful use of outer space for shared scientific progress. China has increasingly opened its space programme to global partners after being excluded from the International Space Station.
Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) described the development as a major breakthrough for the country’s human spaceflight ambitions. It said the astronauts will conduct training in China before the planned mission to the space station in 2026.
During the mission, the Pakistani astronaut will carry out scientific experiments in microgravity, focusing on areas such as material science, life sciences, fluid physics, and biotechnology. These experiments are expected to have applications in agriculture, climate resilience, and industrial innovation.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the development, calling it a “landmark achievement” and a reflection of strong Pakistan-China cooperation. Officials said the collaboration places Pakistan among a small group of countries actively participating in human space missions.
Sources: Dawn, The Express Tribune, China Daily, CGTN
