Pakistani astronaut to join China’s next space station mission | Space News
Pakistan’s Astronaut to Join China’s Shenzhou-24 Mission
Beijing – The China Manned Space Agency announced the selection of a Pakistani astronaut as a payload specialist for its forthcoming Shenzhou-24 mission, marking a historic milestone as this individual will become the first foreign national to visit China’s space station.
The unidentified astronaut is expected to participate in the mission as part of a bilateral agreement under the Belt and Road Initiative, according to reports from Chinese state media. While the departure date for the Shenzhou-24 mission has yet to be confirmed, it is anticipated to take place by the end of 2026.
In preparation for this mission, Pakistani pilots Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud underwent extensive training at the China Astronaut Research and Training Center in Beijing. This training program, which was established following an agreement between Pakistan and China in February, focuses on preparing Pakistani astronauts through operational exercises coupled with intensive Chinese language courses.
Additionally, the mission will involve the deployment of Jinnah-1, Pakistan’s first lunar rover. The rover, weighing 35 kilograms, is equipped with specialized scientific instruments designed to analyze plasma behavior, radiation, and lunar soil composition.
Once the mission’s short-term in-orbit flight is completed, the astronauts are scheduled to return to Earth aboard the Shenzhou-23 spacecraft.
China’s ambitious investment in its space program aims to enhance its capabilities and compete with other spacefaring nations, particularly the United States. Beijing has set a goal to land astronauts on the Moon by 2030.
The United States, Russia, and China continue to pursue advancements in space technology, including plans to build nuclear reactors on the Moon. NASA aims to develop such infrastructure by the end of 2030, while Russia, in collaboration with China, is working toward a similar objective by 2036. These reactors are slated to support lunar mining operations, providing essential resources for future space exploration.
