Pakistan set for historic space milestone

Pakistan is moving closer to sending its first astronaut into space as two Pakistani pilots undergo intensive training in China for a potential mission aboard the Tiangong space station.

Pilots Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud have been training at China’s astronaut research and training centre in Beijing. They are learning Mandarin, studying spacecraft systems and undergoing centrifuge exercises to prepare for the physical demands of spaceflight.

A final decision on which pilot will represent Pakistan is expected in mid-to-late October, according to Amer Gilani, who oversees human spaceflight cooperation at Pakistan’s national space agency, SUPARCO.

The selected astronaut would become the first Pakistani to travel to space and the first foreign astronaut invited by China to board its Tiangong space station.

The mission is part of growing space cooperation between Pakistan and China. Their collaboration has already included the launch of Pakistani satellites by China, work on satellite navigation and the development of a Pakistani lunar rover.

The Pakistani astronaut will serve as a payload specialist rather than a spacecraft pilot. The main responsibility will be to conduct scientific experiments prepared by Pakistani researchers.

SUPARCO received more than 300 proposals from universities in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad for experiments to be carried aboard the mission. Four projects were eventually selected by Chinese institutions.

The experiments include biotechnology research aimed at addressing challenges linked to food security and climate change. The projects are being developed and tested in Pakistani laboratories before receiving approval for spaceflight.

The selected pilot will remain in China until the mission and will travel directly into space from the country. The planned stay aboard Tiangong is expected to last about a week.

Pakistan does not currently have its own crewed spacecraft or launch vehicle. The mission will therefore rely on Chinese spacecraft, launch facilities and training.

The space mission is part of a wider partnership between the two countries. A Pakistani-built rover is also expected to travel to the Moon aboard China’s Chang’e 8 mission around 2028. The rover will use artificial intelligence-based imaging to identify obstacles and navigate the lunar surface.

Officials said there is currently no official agreement for a Pakistani astronaut to travel to the Moon. Future opportunities would depend on the outcome of the country’s first human spaceflight mission.