Pakistan is set to send two of its citizens to China for a one-year astronaut training program at the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). The program will begin in October 2025.
Once their training is complete, the selected astronauts will spend a week aboard the Chinese Space Station in 2026. This will be the first time Pakistanis take part in a human spaceflight mission.
According to Suparco, around 300 science experiments have already been shortlisted for the mission. These projects will cover areas such as medicine, aerospace, ecology, and astronomy, giving Pakistani scientists a chance to test new ideas in space.
The training is part of a larger cooperation plan between China and Pakistan that runs from 2025 to 2029. The plan includes astronaut training, joint lunar research, and the development of advanced space technologies.
Officials say this partnership demonstrates Pakistan’s progress toward establishing its own space program. While the country has made progress with satellites, this is the first real step into human space exploration.
For Pakistan, the mission represents both scientific opportunity and national pride. It not only strengthens cooperation with China but also opens the door for future generations of scientists and engineers to dream bigger.
