Pakistan could soon have its first astronaut aboard China’s space station, as two Pakistani candidates continue intensive training at the China Astronaut Research and Training Center.
Yang Liwei, China’s first astronaut to travel into space and deputy chief designer of the country’s manned space program, said that the two Pakistani astronauts are expected to participate in future space missions alongside Chinese astronauts.
Under the current plan, one of the Pakistani astronauts will take part in a short-duration mission as a payload specialist, potentially marking a major milestone in Pakistan’s space exploration efforts.
The two candidates were selected in April as the first Pakistani and foreign astronauts to enter China’s astronaut training program. By May, they had begun training at China’s astronaut center, where they are preparing alongside Chinese astronauts for the demanding conditions of spaceflight. Their training is expected to include technical preparation, physical conditioning, emergency procedures and mission-specific activities.
If the plans move forward, the mission could represent a significant step in Pakistan’s growing cooperation with China in space technology and exploration. It would also give a Pakistani astronaut the opportunity to experience life and conduct work aboard China’s Tiangong space station.
A Pakistani astronaut in space could be a historic moment for the country. What do you think this mission would look like—and what should Pakistan’s astronaut accomplish aboard China’s space station?
