# Pakistani astronaut to join China’s next space station mission

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/pakistani-astronaut-to-join-chinas-next-space-station-mission/
- Published: 2026-11-07T10:17:53+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-07T11:26:53+00:00
- Original publisher: Al Jazeera (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/11/7/pakistani-astronaut-to-join-chinas-next-space-station-mission?traffic_source=rss
- Topics: Asia, Space, Technology, World

## Key points

- A Pakistani astronaut is set to join China’s Shenzhou-24 mission.
- The astronaut would be the first foreign visitor to China’s space station.
- Pakistan’s 35kg Jinnah-1 rover is also due to head to the Moon.

## Summary

China has selected a Pakistani astronaut to serve as a payload specialist on its upcoming Shenzhou-24 mission, which would make them the first foreign national to visit China’s space station. The selection reflects growing space cooperation between China and Pakistan, and forms part of a programme to train Pakistani astronauts.

China has not named the astronaut or announced a launch date, though the mission is expected by the end of 2026. Pakistani pilots Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud trained in Beijing; China’s state broadcaster said the crew would return to Earth aboard Shenzhou-23 after a short stay in orbit. Pakistan is also due to send its first lunar rover, Jinnah-1, a 35kg vehicle designed to study lunar soil, radiation and plasma behaviour.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.