The mission will see a Pakistani national make history as the first foreign visitor to China's orbital outpost aboard Shenzhou-24. Two candidates, Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud, have completed operational preparation and intensive Chinese language coursework at a training facility in Beijing. After concluding the mission's objectives, the visiting astronaut will return to Earth aboard the Shenzhou-23 spacecraft. The expanding partnership will also incorporate a Pakistani-built, AI-guided rover on China's Chang'e-8 mission slated for around 2028.
Key points
The upcoming flight represents the first time a foreign national will visit China's opera…: The upcoming flight represents the first time a foreign national will visit China's operational space station.
Bilateral space cooperation between the two nations is officially established under the f…: Bilateral space cooperation between the two nations is officially established under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.
While Pakistan aims to reach the Moon by 2035, there is currently no commitment to land a…: While Pakistan aims to reach the Moon by 2035, there is currently no commitment to land a Pakistani astronaut on the lunar surface.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
A Pakistani astronaut will join the crew of China's Shenzhou-24 spacecraft this year, becoming the first foreign national to visit Beijing's space station, Chinese state media reported on Saturday.
The astronaut will undertake a short-term stay in orbit before returning to Earth aboard the Shenzhou-23 spacecraft, according to the China Manned Space Agency.
The agency has not announced the launch date or identified the astronaut.
The mission will mark the first joint spaceflight involving Chinese and foreign astronauts in the history of China's manned space programme, news agency Xinhua reported.
The Pakistani astronaut will participate as a payload specialist, according to Chinese broadcaster CCTV.
Two Pakistani candidates underwent training in China
Earlier this year, two Pakistani candidates, Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud, had begun training alongside their Chinese counterparts. One of them was expected to be selected for the short-duration mission.
The training included developing hands-on operational capabilities as well as intensive Chinese language instruction.
The two candidates had been training at the China Astronaut Research and Training Centre in Beijing, according to a Pakistani space agency official.
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