Beijing/Islamabad, October 30, 2025 — In a landmark move symbolizing the deepening space cooperation between China and Pakistan, Beijing has announced plans to send the first-ever Pakistani astronaut to the Tiangong Space Station next year.
The announcement was made by officials from the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) during a joint press conference with Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) in Beijing. The mission, expected to launch in mid-2026, will mark Pakistan’s entry into the elite group of nations with human spaceflight experience.
“This mission represents a new era of China–Pakistan cooperation in space exploration,” said CMSA spokesperson Zhang Wei. “We are honored to help our Pakistani friends realize their dream of manned spaceflight.”
According to sources, two Pakistani astronauts have been shortlisted after months of training and evaluation under the supervision of Chinese space experts. One of them will be selected for the Tiangong mission, where they will spend around seven days conducting scientific experiments and cultural exchange activities aboard the orbital station.
SUPARCO Chairman Dr. Arif Siddiqui hailed the announcement as a “historic milestone” for Pakistan’s space ambitions.
“This collaboration will inspire a new generation of Pakistani scientists and engineers to pursue careers in space technology,” he said.
China and Pakistan have a long-standing partnership in space science, with China previously launching Pakistan’s communication and remote sensing satellites. The upcoming manned mission will take that cooperation “beyond the stratosphere,” experts say.
The Tiangong Space Station, fully operational since 2023, has hosted astronauts from several countries under China’s growing international space cooperation program.
