BEIJING: China will send a Pakistani astronaut on a short-term mission to its space station, state news agency reported Xinhua reported on Thursday.
Under the plan, two Pakistani candidates will train alongside Chinese taikonauts, the China Manned Space Agency said at a news conference, with one of them to be selected as a payload specialist for the short space flight.
Earlier this year, the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) signed a cooperation agreement with CMSA, paving the way for the first Pakistani astronauts to embark on a mission to Tiangong, the Chinese Space Station (CSS).
In a historic agreement, two Pakistani astronauts will undergo training at the Astronaut Center of China, an official statement said.
One selected astronaut will be trained as a science payload specialist in preparation for specialized research aboard the CSS.
The astronaut selection process for the program began in April this year.
The first national astronaut’s mission at CSS involves conducting groundbreaking scientific experiments in various fields, including biological and medical sciences, aerospace, applied physics, fluid mechanics, space radiation, ecology, materials sciences, microgravity studies and astronomy.
The statement further said that the Chinese space station is equipped with state-of-the-art experimental racks and external adapters, enabling multi-domain research in these areas.
The findings from these experiments are expected to yield significant advances in medical research, environmental monitoring and space technology, with potential applications that will benefit life on Earth.
Earlier this month, Pakistan and China agreed to intensify cooperation in space sciences, with a focus on astronaut training and the establishment of a Pakistan Space Center as part of their five-year action plan.
This agreement is under the Action Plan (2025-2029) for Closer Partnership between China and Pakistan in the New Era.
The two countries will continue to implement the Space Cooperation Outline Program 2021-2030 signed between the Chinese National Space Administration and Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to joint work in lunar and deep space exploration, including multi-level assessments of the International Lunar Research Station and enhanced cooperation in advanced space technologies.
The action plan will provide for the joint selection and training of astronauts, a step that could pave the way for Pakistan’s eventual participation in human spaceflight missions in collaboration with China.
