Pakistani Astronaut Set to Become First Foreign National on China’s Space Station

Pakistan is preparing to make history as one of its astronauts is set to become the first foreign national to visit China’s Tiangong space station. The astronaut will participate in China’s Shenzhou-24 mission, becoming the first non-Chinese crew member in the country’s human spaceflight programme. The announcement was made by China’s Manned Space Agency on November 7, 2026, highlighting growing cooperation between Beijing and Islamabad in space exploration.

The selected Pakistani astronaut will serve as a payload specialist, focusing primarily on scientific experiments and research activities aboard the space station. After spending a short period in orbit, the astronaut is expected to return to Earth aboard the Shenzhou-23 spacecraft. China has not yet publicly disclosed the astronaut’s identity or confirmed the exact launch date for the mission.

Two Pakistani pilots, Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud, have reportedly undergone months of intensive training at China’s astronaut training centre in Beijing. Their preparation includes spacecraft operations, emergency procedures, physical conditioning and Chinese-language instruction. The mission follows a space cooperation agreement signed between Pakistan and China in February 2025, creating an opportunity for Pakistani scientists to participate in China’s crewed space programme.

The historic flight represents a major development in Pakistan’s space ambitions and strengthens its strategic partnership with China. It will also expand China’s international participation in human space exploration, as Tiangong has previously hosted only Chinese astronauts since becoming operational in 2021. Beyond the astronaut mission, both countries are pursuing additional space projects, including plans for a Pakistani lunar rover to participate in China’s Chang’e-8 mission, currently expected around 2028.