A Pakistani astronaut is set to become the first foreign visitor to China’s space station, joining the upcoming Shenzhou-24 orbital mission, the China Manned Space Agency announced.
Pakistan and China, long-standing diplomatic and strategic partners, formalized cooperation in February 2025 through an agreement establishing a Chinese government training program for Pakistani astronauts.
According to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA), the Pakistani crew member will launch alongside the Shenzhou-24 team. The agency did not disclose a specific launch date, though the mission is expected before the end of the year.
The astronaut, serving as a payload specialist, will complete a short-duration orbital flight and return aboard the Shenzhou-23 spacecraft, which docked with the Tiangong space station in May. CMSA has not named the individual, but previously announced in April that Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud were selected to begin astronaut training in China.
Beijing has significantly expanded its space program in recent years, narrowing the gap with the United States and targeting a crewed lunar landing by 2030. Pakistan is a natural collaborator, given the two nations’ decades-long “all-weather” partnership; China remains Pakistan’s largest trading partner and a leading source of foreign investment.
Under the 2025 agreement, the trained Pakistani astronauts are expected to undertake short-term missions alongside Chinese counterparts over the coming years, state news agency Xinhua reported.
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