Two Pakistani pilots are currently undergoing rigorous training in China, learning Mandarin, adapting to microgravity, and mastering spacecraft systems as the decision approaches on which one will become Pakistan’s first astronaut to visit China’s Tiangong space station. This mission represents a historic milestone for the South Asian country.
Part of a broader collaboration between Pakistan and China, this space venture complements ongoing projects such as Chinese-launched Pakistani satellites, a joint satellite-navigation system, and a Pakistani-developed rover slated for China’s Chang’e 8 lunar mission around 2028. Pilots Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud have been training for months at the China Astronaut Research and Training Center in Beijing, following an initiative launched by both nations in 2019.
The final selection of the astronaut is expected by mid-to-late October, though China has not disclosed which pilot will fly or the mission’s exact timing. The chosen astronaut will proceed directly from training in China to launch, returning to Pakistan only after completing recovery post-mission. Their training regimen includes intensive Chinese language courses, spacecraft operation, and physical conditioning to withstand the g-forces of launch and the challenges of weightlessness.
These two pilots were selected from approximately 20 finalists, themselves chosen from an initial pool of Pakistani pilots and scientists. Candidates were evaluated for medical fitness, psychological resilience, and an unusual tolerance for high g-forces, a trait more common among experienced pilots than scientists. This selection process highlights the unique demands of human spaceflight.
Once in orbit, the astronaut will serve as a “payload specialist,” responsible for conducting Pakistani scientific experiments rather than piloting the spacecraft. From over 300 proposals submitted by universities in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, four biotechnology experiments were selected by Chinese institutes to address food insecurity and climate change. These experiments are developed and pre-tested in Pakistan before receiving final approval from Chinese engineers, marking a significant validation of Pakistani technology on an international stage.
Although the scientific payload is modest compared to the Tiangong station’s extensive research portfolio—which includes over 180 experiments, 500 research papers, and 150 patents—the station’s three modules, Tianhe, Wentian, and Mengtian, collectively weigh about 77 metric tons and accommodate a wide range of scientific investigations in life sciences, materials, fluid physics, combustion, and radiation exposure.
The Pakistani astronaut will travel aboard a Chinese spacecraft launched from China, trained by Chinese instructors, and will communicate in Mandarin while in orbit. Pakistan currently lacks independent launch vehicles or crewed spacecraft, and the mission duration is expected to be about one week, significantly shorter than the typical six-month rotations of Chinese crew members. The astronaut will return with two Chinese crew members who arrived at the station in May, while a third Chinese astronaut remains for a year-long mission to study long-duration spaceflight effects.
Since Yuri Gagarin’s pioneering flight in 1961, around 50 countries have sent citizens into space, but only Russia, the United States, and China have launched their own crewed spacecraft. China’s invitation to Pakistan marks the first time it will carry a foreign astronaut aboard its space station. When asked about potential lunar missions under this partnership, Pakistani officials stated there are no current commitments or discussions, with future plans dependent on the success of this inaugural mission.
Separately, Pakistan is contributing a lunar rover to China’s Chang’e 8 mission, expected around 2028. This rover will utilize AI-based stereo imaging to autonomously navigate the lunar surface, as real-time Earth-based control is not feasible. Pakistani scientists view this collaboration as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to advance their space capabilities and scientific research.
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