Beijing is currently providing specialized training to a group of prospective Pakistani astronauts. This intensive program is preparing them for a rigorous selection process, which will determine who ultimately undertakes a brief visit to China’s Tiangong orbital space station.
Two Pakistani astronaut candidates are set to undergo training alongside their Chinese counterparts, with one ultimately slated for a brief spaceflight as a payload expert.
This significant development was announced by Zhang Jingbo, spokesperson for the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA), who briefed reporters on Thursday (Oct. 30).
A day ahead of its highly anticipated launch, the Shenzhou 21 crewed mission was the focus of a press conference held at the Jiuquan spaceport. The following day, Friday, October 31, the spacecraft successfully lifted off, sending commander Zhang Lu and rookie astronauts Wu Fei and Zhang Hongzhang on their journey to the Tiangong space station.
In a significant stride for international space collaboration, China and Pakistan formalized an agreement in February of this year to send a Pakistani astronaut to China’s Tiangong space station.
The preliminary phase of astronaut selection is currently underway in Pakistan. However, subsequent secondary and final selection rounds will be conducted in China, as confirmed by Zhang.
Aboard the spacecraft, the crew’s responsibilities will extend beyond their standard daily duties to include conducting scientific experiments specifically for Pakistan, Zhang explained.
While officials, including Zhang, have yet to specify the exact mission, a Pakistani astronaut is confirmed to embark on a space journey aboard a Chinese spacecraft. This forthcoming flight will see the individual occupy one of three seats within a Shenzhou capsule. The spacecraft will be launched into orbit by a Long March 2F rocket, lifting off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, located in China’s Gobi Desert.
Looking ahead, the Shenzhou 22 mission is slated for launch in approximately six months. Its crew will travel to the Tiangong space station to relieve the current Shenzhou 21 team. Following this, the Shenzhou 23 mission is projected to launch roughly one year from now.
While the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) has not yet issued official confirmation, the anticipated brevity of the international astronaut’s visit provides insight into the likely mission plan. Reports suggest the Pakistani astronaut will journey to the Tiangong space station aboard a Shenzhou spacecraft, accompanied by two Chinese crewmates. After a short stay lasting several days, the astronaut is then expected to return to Earth with two of the three crew members from the previous mission, who will have completed their customary six-month rotation in orbit. This specific arrangement would leave one Chinese astronaut on board Tiangong, allowing them to undertake the nation’s pioneering continuous one-year mission in space.
China’s Tiangong space station, a three-module orbital outpost, achieved full operational status in late 2022. Beijing has ambitious plans for the facility, aiming to maintain continuous operation and a permanent human presence for at least a decade. Notably, this operational lifespan is projected to surpass that of the significantly larger International Space Station.
Beyond Earth orbit, China is also collaborating with Pakistan on the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) project, with construction on the moon-based facility anticipated to begin in the 2030s.
