Pakistani astronaut to join China’s next space station mission

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.