A Pakistani astronaut is poised to take part in the upcoming Shenzhou XXIV spaceflight, becoming the first foreign national to be on board China's Tiangong space station, according to the China Manned Space Agency.
The agency said on Saturday that the Pakistani astronaut will be the payload specialist in the Shenzhou XXIV mission crew, spending several days in orbit before returning to Earth with the Shenzhou XXIII spaceship.
The mission will mark the first joint flight involving Chinese and foreign astronauts in the history of China's manned space program, the agency said.
In February 2025, the Chinese agency and Pakistan's Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission signed an agreement in Islamabad, Pakistan's capital, opening bilateral cooperation to select and train Pakistani astronauts.
Following rigorous screening and evaluation in three phases — preliminary selection, secondary selection and final selection — two Pakistani astronaut candidates were chosen. They are Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud, two male Pakistani pilots.
After completing all training sessions in China and passing assessments, one of them will join a manned spaceflight mission, while the other will serve as the backup astronaut, according to the agency.
The CMSA has not identified the onboard astronaut nor given the date of departure, but the mission is expected to take place in the coming weeks.
Pang Zhihao, an expert on space exploration technology who has worked at the China Academy of Space Technology for decades, said China and Pakistan have a long history of wide-ranging space cooperation, involving satellite research and development, in-orbit operation, data access and application, space professional training and space governance.
"The participation of a Pakistani astronaut in the Shenzhou XXIV crew will be a historic milestone for both nations. It demonstrates that the Tiangong space station serves not only China but all humanity, showcasing the openness, transparency and inclusive nature of China's manned space program," Pang said.
"For Pakistan, the mission will become a source of national pride, and will boost its space expertise and inspire young people to explore science and the unknown universe. During the flight, the Pakistani astronaut can conduct experiments, gain hands-on microgravity experience and bring tangible benefits to Pakistan's scientific community," he added.
So far, 27 Chinese astronauts from 11 crews have taken part in missions in the orbital outpost.
zhaolei@chinadaily.com.cn
