The Pakistani astronaut’s mission to China’s space station marks a historic milestone in Pakistan’s space journey. The China Manned Space Engineering Office (CMSEO) and Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) have signed a cooperation agreement for sending a Pakistani astronaut to China’s space station.
Under the agreement, China will select and train a group of Pakistani candidates. One astronaut will eventually become the first foreign national to enter China’s Tiangong space station.
The selection process is expected to take about one year. During this period, candidates will undergo evaluation and screening before final selection.
🇨🇳China🇵🇰#Pakistan iron brother friendship is higher than the space!
In this year,🇨🇳China will sent one🇵🇰#Pakistani astronaut to Chinese space station of Tiangong as payload specialist, conducting scientific experiments for Pakistan aboard the station.
It's quite a milestone… pic.twitter.com/nWFzq7uejY
— Shen Shiwei 沈诗伟 (@shen_shiwei) February 27, 2026Chosen astronauts will receive comprehensive and systematic training in China. After completing training, the selected astronaut will participate in short-term spaceflight missions aboard the Tiangong space station.
These missions will take place alongside Chinese astronauts in the coming years. The partnership reflects deepening cooperation between the two countries in space exploration and scientific research.
Read: Pakistan Astronaut Selection Programme Reaches Key Milestone
The agreement was formally signed at the Prime Minister’s House in the presence of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Lin Xiqiang, Deputy Director of CMSEO, and Muhammad Yousuf Khan, Chairman of SUPARCO, signed the document.
This initiative represents a significant advancement for Pakistan’s space program and highlights expanding international collaboration in human spaceflight.
