Pakistan is moving closer to sending its first astronaut into space, with two Pakistan Air Force pilots currently training in China for a planned mission to the Tiangong space station. Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud were selected in April after a multi-stage screening process.
The final selection is expected in mid to late October 2026. One of the two candidates will join a Chinese crew as a payload specialist, becoming the first Pakistani and the first foreign astronaut to visit Tiangong. China has not yet announced the exact launch date.
The candidates are undergoing training at the China Astronaut Research and Training Centre in Beijing. Their preparation includes learning Mandarin, studying spacecraft systems, practising in centrifuges and adapting to conditions similar to weightlessness.
The selected astronaut is expected to spend about a week aboard Tiangong and conduct scientific experiments prepared by Pakistan. These include research linked to biotechnology, life sciences, materials and fluid physics.
The mission follows a cooperation agreement signed by Pakistan and China in February 2025. It will also expand Pakistan’s existing space cooperation with China, which includes satellite projects and a planned Pakistani lunar rover for China’s Chang’e 8 mission.
