Pakistan to send two astronauts to China for a year-long training program
Pakistan has officially begun a new
phase of its space collaboration with China, as two Pakistani astronauts
prepare to start a year-long training program at the China Manned Space Agency
(CMSA) this month. The training will pave the way for Pakistan’s first crewed
mission to the Chinese Space Station (CSS) in 2026.
The Space and Upper Atmosphere
Research Commission (SUPARCO) has invited research proposals from across the
country for scientific experiments to be conducted during the mission, with over
300 projects already shortlisted. One of the astronauts will serve as a payload
specialist, leading experiments in areas including biology, medicine, applied
physics, aerospace engineering, and astronomy.
Read More Pakistan
signs agreement with China to send first Pakistani astronaut to space
The collaboration aims to advance Pakistan’s capabilities in space technology and scientific research, particularly in medical studies, environmental monitoring, and microgravity experiments. Pakistani researchers will have access to the CSS’s state-of-the-art laboratories and external experiment platforms, allowing them to perform investigations in space for the first time.
This mission represents a milestone
in Pakistan-China space cooperation, building on a recently agreed five-year
joint action plan that includes astronaut training, the establishment of a Pakistan
Space Centre, and future collaboration in lunar and deep space exploration.
Read More Pakistan
seeks to boost space technology cooperation with China
Officials say the initiative will not only deepen Pakistan’s scientific partnership with China but also mark a historic step toward the country’s entry into human spaceflight programs and participation in the global space community.
Source: Daily CPEC