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Two Pakistanis Shortlisted for China’s Tiangong Space Station Mission
Pakistan takes a major leap into human spaceflight Two astronaut candidates have been shortlisted by China’s Astronauts Centre, with one set to join the Tiangong space station mission in 2026.
ND
by News Desk
2026-02-07
Two Pakistanis Shortlisted for China’s Tiangong Space Station Mission

Pakistan has reached a historic milestone in its journey toward human spaceflight as two astronaut candidates have been officially shortlisted for training under a joint programme with China.

According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Saturday, the Astronauts Centre of China (ACC) has completed the secondary phase of selection for Pakistan’s Human Spaceflight Programme. The process was carried out in line with international human spaceflight standards.

The development follows a cooperation agreement signed in February 2025 between Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) and the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). Under the agreement, two Pakistani candidates were to undergo training in China, with one ultimately joining a future mission aboard the Tiangong space station.

ISPR said the shortlisted candidates successfully cleared extensive medical, psychological, and aptitude assessments conducted at ACC after an initial screening process in Pakistan. The two candidates will now undergo six months of advanced astronaut training in China.

Upon completion of the training, one candidate will be selected to participate in a spaceflight mission to the Tiangong space station, expected to take place in October or November 2026.

The military’s media wing highlighted that the cooperation is based on the bilateral Astronaut Cooperation Agreement signed in February 2025 under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The statement credited the prime minister’s vision and support as instrumental in enabling Pakistan’s participation in human spaceflight.

ISPR also noted that China selected Pakistan as the first foreign partner in its astronaut programme, reflecting the growing depth of bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

At the signing ceremony earlier this year, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had announced that Pakistan, in collaboration with China, would send its first astronaut on a manned mission to China’s space station.

CMSA later confirmed that two Pakistani astronauts would be trained in China, with one expected to serve as a payload specialist aboard the Tiangong station. CMSA spokesperson Lin Xiqiang stated that the selected astronaut would conduct scientific experiments on behalf of Pakistan while also performing standard crew duties.

Lin added that the selection process for Pakistani astronauts follows the same three-stage system used for Chinese astronauts, including preliminary, secondary, and final evaluations.

China has been excluded from participation in the International Space Station since 2011, following US restrictions on Nasa’s collaboration with Chinese space agencies. Since then, Beijing has expanded its independent space programme and actively sought international partnerships, including with Pakistan.

The upcoming mission is expected to mark Pakistan’s first-ever human presence in space, opening new avenues for scientific research, technological advancement, and international collaboration.
Tagged:

PakChinaFriendship

PakistanInSpace

HumanSpaceflight

TiangongSpaceStation
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