Pakistan to Send First International Astronaut to China's Tiangong Station
A Pakistani military pilot will join the Shenzhou 24 mission for a historic orbital visit.
1Historic Orbital Collaboration
A Pakistani astronaut is scheduled to launch on the Shenzhou 24 mission this November, marking the first time an international visitor boards China's Tiangong space station. This mission represents a significant milestone in the long-standing strategic partnership between China and Pakistan, expanding their joint aerospace activities beyond previous satellite and lunar rover projects.
2Selection of Candidates
Two Pakistani military pilots, Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud, were selected from a pool of twenty finalists to train at the Astronaut Centre of China. While both underwent rigorous preparation, only one will fly as a payload specialist on the upcoming mission, while the other remains on standby as a backup crew member.
3Mission Logistics and Duration
The Pakistani astronaut will spend approximately one week aboard the Tiangong space station during a standard crew rotation. Unlike the Chinese crew members who are beginning six-month stays, the visitor will return to Earth on the departing Shenzhou 23 spacecraft, effectively modifying the station's traditional three-person crew rotation cycle for this specific flight.
4Research Payload Objectives
During the short-term orbital stay, the Pakistani astronaut will manage four specific research payloads. These experiments were selected from over 300 proposals submitted to Pakistan's space agency, SUPARCO. The focus remains on scientific utility, ensuring the limited time in microgravity produces tangible data for the nation's growing space research and development program.
5Launch and Operational Details
The Shenzhou 24 mission will launch from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center located in the Gobi Desert. The spacecraft will be propelled by a Long March 2F rocket. While the exact launch date remains unannounced, the rollout of the rocket to the launch pad is expected approximately one week before the final liftoff.
6Crew Identity Protocols
China maintains strict security regarding its human spaceflight missions, typically withholding the identities of the crew until a press conference held one day before the launch. Consequently, it is not yet publicly confirmed which of the two Pakistani candidates will be the one to officially board the station later this month.
7Extended Orbital Stays
The mission coincides with a notable shift in China's orbital operations. One of the current Shenzhou 23 astronauts, who arrived in May, will remain on the station to complete China's first-ever year-long stay in orbit. This transition highlights the station's increasing capability to support long-duration human presence and complex international crew logistics.
8Deepening Strategic Ties
This mission builds upon a history of aerospace cooperation, including Chinese-launched Pakistani satellites and a planned lunar rover for the Chang'e-8 mission. By integrating a foreign astronaut into its manned program, China reinforces its status as a major space power while strengthening its all-weather strategic alliance with Pakistan through high-profile technological collaboration.