A Pakistani astronaut is expected to make history later this month by becoming the first foreign national to visit China’s Tiangong space station, marking a significant milestone in space co-operation between Islamabad and Beijing.

The mission will see one of two Pakistani astronaut candidates currently training in China fly aboard the forthcoming Shenzhou 24 spacecraft. The flight follows an agreement signed between China and Pakistan in February 2025 and represents the first occasion on which a foreign astronaut has participated in China’s human spaceflight program.

China’s human spaceflight authorities have confirmed that a Pakistani astronaut will join the Shenzhou 24 crew. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun described the mission as a landmark achievement, stating: “Having the Pakistani astronaut on board China’s spaceships will mark the first-ever joint mission of Chinese and foreign astronauts in the history of China’s manned space program.”

The identity of the astronaut selected for the mission has not yet been officially announced. Pakistani media reports have identified the two finalists as Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud, both military pilots. The pair emerged from a wider selection process involving around 20 finalists before being sent to China for specialist training.

The chosen astronaut will serve as a payload specialist and will fly alongside two Chinese astronauts aboard Shenzhou 24. While the Chinese crew members are expected to undertake a six-month mission in orbit, the Pakistani astronaut will spend approximately one week aboard Tiangong before returning to Earth.

Under the planned crew rotation arrangement, the Pakistani astronaut will travel back aboard the departing Shenzhou 23 spacecraft. Two Chinese astronauts who have completed their six-month stay on the station will also return on the same vehicle.

The mission introduces a notable change to China’s traditional Tiangong crew rotation pattern, which normally involves three astronauts arriving and three departing. On this occasion, one member of the current Shenzhou 23 crew will remain aboard the station, becoming the first Chinese astronaut to complete a continuous one-year mission in orbit.

During his stay on Tiangong, the Pakistani astronaut will carry out four scientific experiments selected from more than 300 proposals submitted by universities and research institutions across Pakistan. According to Pakistan’s national space agency, SUPARCO, the chosen projects focus mainly on biotechnology research with potential applications for tackling food insecurity and climate-related challenges.

Shenzhou 24 is expected to launch before the end of November from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in the Gobi Desert atop a Long March 2F rocket. As is customary for China’s human spaceflight missions, the identities of the crew members are likely to remain confidential until shortly before launch.

The mission forms part of a rapidly expanding space partnership between China and Pakistan. Previous collaborative projects have included Chinese-launched Pakistani satellites, a jointly developed lunar CubeSat, and a Pakistani-built rover scheduled to participate in China’s future Chang’e-8 lunar exploration mission.

The upcoming flight is not only a landmark for Pakistan’s space ambitions but also a major step for China’s international human spaceflight efforts.

By opening Tiangong to a foreign astronaut for the first time, Beijing is signalling a greater willingness to expand international participation in its growing space program while strengthening strategic co-operation with partner nations.

Agencies