Pakistan Selects First Astronaut for China’s Shenzhou-24 Space Mission: What We Know So Far
Pakistan is preparing to make history in human spaceflight after China confirmed that a Pakistani astronaut will participate in its upcoming Shenzhou-24 crewed space mission to the Tiangong space station.
The announcement, made by the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) on November 7, 2026, marks a major development in Pakistan-China space cooperation. The Pakistani astronaut will travel to China’s orbital space station as a payload specialist, becoming the first foreign national to visit the Chinese space station.
The mission will also mark the first joint crewed spaceflight involving Chinese and foreign astronauts in China’s human spaceflight programme.
According to the Chinese agency, the Pakistani astronaut will undertake a short-duration stay in orbit and return to Earth aboard the Shenzhou-23 spacecraft.
Although China has confirmed Pakistan’s participation, it has not publicly identified which of the two Pakistani astronaut candidates will undertake the flight. The candidates, Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud, have been undergoing training in China.
The development follows a cooperation agreement signed between Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) and China’s manned space authorities in February 2025.
China Confirms Pakistani Astronaut for Shenzhou-24 Mission
The China Manned Space Agency announced that one Pakistani astronaut would participate in the Shenzhou-24 crewed mission as a payload specialist.
The announcement represents the completion of an important stage in the bilateral astronaut cooperation programme launched by Pakistan and China.
Under the arrangement, two Pakistani candidates were selected to receive astronaut training in China. Following their training and assessments, one will be assigned to the spaceflight while the other will serve as the backup astronaut.
The CMSA confirmed that the selected Pakistani astronaut would travel to China’s Tiangong space station aboard Shenzhou-24, remain in orbit for a short period and return aboard Shenzhou-23.
The agency described the flight as the first joint mission involving Chinese and foreign astronauts in the history of China’s manned space programme.
It will also make Pakistan the first country whose astronaut visits China’s space station as a foreign crew participant.
However, the announcement did not provide a final name for the Pakistani astronaut or a confirmed launch date.
Who Are the Two Pakistani Astronaut Candidates?
Pakistan’s astronaut selection process produced two candidates: Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud.
Both candidates were selected to undergo training at China’s Astronaut Centre and have been preparing for the country’s first human spaceflight participation.
The two candidates were previously identified in reports and official statements concerning Pakistan’s astronaut programme. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also met them in April 2026 and congratulated them on their selection.
Their training has included preparation for the demands of crewed spaceflight, including spacecraft operations and the conditions astronauts experience in orbit.
The final selection will determine which candidate serves as the primary astronaut and which remains available as the backup.
At the time of the Chinese agency’s November 7 announcement, the astronaut’s identity had not been publicly disclosed.
This distinction matters because the selection of two candidates for training does not mean both will travel to space on the same mission.
What Is a Payload Specialist?
The Pakistani astronaut will travel as a payload specialist rather than as the spacecraft’s commander or pilot.
A payload specialist is an astronaut assigned to carry out specific scientific or technical activities during a space mission.
These activities can include conducting experiments, operating research equipment, collecting scientific data and monitoring experimental procedures.
In this case, Pakistan’s participation is intended to provide an opportunity for Pakistani scientific research aboard the Chinese space station.
SUPARCO’s description of the astronaut programme identifies several potential research areas, including:
- Biological and medical sciences.
- Aerospace research.
- Applied physics.
- Fluid mechanics.
- Space radiation.
- Ecology and environmental research.
- Materials science.
- Microgravity studies.
- Astronomy.
The actual experiments and mission activities should be distinguished from the broader research areas associated with the programme. The complete flight experiment schedule has not been disclosed in the CMSA’s November 7 announcement.
The payload specialist role also means that the Pakistani astronaut will not be responsible for piloting or commanding the Shenzhou spacecraft.
Pakistani Astronaut Will Travel on Shenzhou-24 and Return on Shenzhou-23
One notable feature of the planned mission is that the Pakistani astronaut is expected to use two different spacecraft for the outward and return journeys.
The astronaut will travel to the Tiangong space station aboard Shenzhou-24 and return to Earth aboard Shenzhou-23.
This arrangement is part of the mission plan announced by the Chinese space agency.
Shenzhou spacecraft are China’s crewed spacecraft, designed to transport astronauts between Earth and the country’s space station.
The vehicles are part of China’s human spaceflight programme and support crew transportation, docking operations and return journeys.
Shenzhou-23 was launched in May 2026 and docked with the Tiangong space station. Its role in the planned return journey means the Pakistani astronaut will not necessarily return in the same spacecraft used to travel to orbit.
The Chinese agency has confirmed the spacecraft arrangement but has not published a complete mission timetable.
When Will Pakistan’s First Astronaut Go to Space?
The exact launch schedule requires careful attention because different announcements have referred to different dates.
On October 18, 2026, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal said Pakistan’s first astronaut would undertake the mission on November 25.
However, the CMSA’s November 7 announcement confirmed the Pakistani astronaut’s participation without providing a specific launch date.
Consequently, November 25 should be treated as a date previously announced by Pakistan’s planning minister, not as a launch date independently confirmed in the latest Chinese agency statement.
The final schedule will depend on the mission’s operational arrangements and official confirmation from the relevant space agencies.
Readers should therefore rely on announcements from CMSA and SUPARCO for any changes to the launch timetable.
Pakistan and China Signed Astronaut Cooperation Agreement in 2025
The planned mission is the result of a bilateral agreement signed in Islamabad on February 28, 2025.
SUPARCO and China’s manned space authorities signed the cooperation agreement to establish a programme for selecting and training Pakistani astronauts and sending one of them to the Chinese space station.
Under the agreement, China would provide astronaut training and support Pakistan’s participation in a short-duration crewed mission.
The programme involved several stages of selection and assessment.
According to the Chinese agency, the process included preliminary selection, secondary selection and final selection. Two Pakistani reserve astronaut candidates were subsequently selected for training in China.
The arrangement provides Pakistan with an opportunity to participate in human spaceflight through China’s established spacecraft, launch infrastructure, training facilities and orbital research platform.
For Pakistan, this is an important development because the country does not currently operate an independent human spaceflight programme.
What Is China’s Tiangong Space Station?
The Tiangong space station is China’s permanently crewed orbital research facility.
The name Tiangong translates approximately as “Heavenly Palace”. The station provides a platform for scientific research, technology demonstrations and human activities in microgravity.
It supports research in fields such as biological science, materials science, physics and space technology.
The station operates in low Earth orbit and is designed to accommodate astronauts for extended periods.
China completed the main construction of the station in 2022. It has since continued operating crewed missions and conducting scientific experiments.
The participation of a Pakistani astronaut will expand the international dimension of the station’s activities.
It is particularly significant because China has historically relied primarily on its own astronauts for crewed missions.
The Pakistani astronaut’s planned visit will represent the first time a foreign national joins a mission to the Chinese space station.
Why the Mission Matters for Pakistan’s Space Programme
Pakistan’s participation in a crewed space mission could provide benefits beyond the symbolic achievement of sending its first astronaut into orbit.
One important area is scientific research.
Experiments conducted in microgravity can help researchers study biological processes, materials, fluid behaviour and other phenomena under conditions that cannot be reproduced in the same way on Earth.
The experience could also help Pakistani scientists and engineers understand the requirements of designing and managing experiments for orbital environments.
Another potential benefit is human capital development.
Astronaut training involves technical preparation, scientific understanding, operational discipline and the ability to work in complex environments. The knowledge gained through the programme may support future research and training activities.
The cooperation also creates an opportunity for Pakistani researchers to work with Chinese scientific institutions and space experts.
However, the mission should not be interpreted as proof that Pakistan has developed its own crewed spacecraft or independent capability to launch astronauts.
The planned flight relies on China’s space infrastructure and operational support.
What Could the Mission Mean for Pakistan-China Space Cooperation?
The astronaut programme forms part of wider scientific and technological cooperation between Pakistan and China.
The two countries have previously collaborated in satellite development, space technology and related research activities.
Pakistan’s space programme has focused on satellite communications, Earth observation, remote sensing and scientific applications.
Human spaceflight represents a different area of cooperation, requiring specialised training, spacecraft systems and complex mission planning.
The planned Shenzhou-24 participation could provide a foundation for further cooperation in space science and research.
It may also encourage Pakistani universities and research institutions to develop projects connected with microgravity experiments, biological sciences and aerospace engineering.
For China, the mission represents an expansion of international participation in its human spaceflight programme.
The inclusion of a Pakistani astronaut also demonstrates how bilateral scientific agreements can develop into practical cooperation involving research and crewed space missions.
What Happens After the First Pakistani Astronaut Mission?
The first mission is expected to be a short-duration flight, but its wider significance will depend on what Pakistan does with the experience and research opportunities it provides.
Potential areas of future development include:
Scientific research: Pakistani institutions could use the experience to develop more advanced experiments for future space-based research.
Astronaut training: The training programme may help build a foundation for further Pakistani participation in international human spaceflight activities.
University cooperation: Academic institutions could explore research partnerships in aerospace engineering, materials science and biological research.
Technology development: Lessons from the mission could support Pakistan’s wider space technology and scientific development goals.
International cooperation: The programme may create opportunities for additional joint projects with China and other space research partners.
These are potential areas of development rather than confirmed future commitments. Their progress will depend on investment, research capacity and subsequent agreements.
A Historic Step in Pakistan’s Space Journey
China’s confirmation of a Pakistani astronaut for the Shenzhou-24 mission marks an important milestone in Pakistan’s participation in human spaceflight.
The astronaut will become the first foreign visitor to China’s Tiangong space station and participate in the first joint crewed flight involving Chinese and foreign astronauts under China’s manned space programme.
The two Pakistani candidates, Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud, have undergone training in China, with one expected to undertake the mission and the other to serve as backup.
Although the astronaut’s identity and final launch timetable were not disclosed in the latest Chinese announcement, the mission itself has been confirmed.
For Pakistan, the achievement represents an opportunity to gain experience in orbital research, astronaut training and international scientific cooperation.
The planned mission is more than a symbolic spaceflight: it is an opportunity for Pakistan to strengthen its scientific capabilities and expand its participation in international space research.