China’s space agency selects Pakistani astronaut for Shenzhou-24
The planned mission would bring the first foreign national to China’s space station. China has not named the astronaut or given a departure date.
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The planned mission would bring the first foreign national to China’s space station. China has not named the astronaut or given a departure date.
China’s Manned Space Agency has selected a Pakistani astronaut as a payload specialist for the planned Shenzhou-24 mission, Chinese state media said. If the flight goes ahead, the astronaut would be the first foreign national to visit China’s space station.
The selection follows an agreement in February between China and Pakistan that established a Chinese government-led program to train Pakistani astronauts. A payload specialist is selected and trained for a particular payload aboard a crewed spacecraft.
Pakistani pilots Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud spent months training at the China Astronaut Research and Training Center in Beijing. Their preparation included practical operational exercises and intensive Chinese-language lessons, Al Jazeera said. China has not identified the selected astronaut.
The mission is expected by the end of 2026, although China has not given a departure date. China Central Television said the astronauts would return to Earth aboard Shenzhou-23 after a short orbital flight.
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