Two Pakistani astronaut candidates have been shortlisted for Pakistan’s Human Spaceflight Programme following an extensive selection process conducted by China’s Astronauts Centre, according to a statement issued by ISPR on Saturday. The development marks a key step forward in Pakistan’s participation in human space exploration and reflects growing cooperation between Islamabad and Beijing in advanced space technologies. The shortlisted candidates were selected under a bilateral agreement signed between Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission and China Manned Space Agency in February 2025, which laid the foundation for training Pakistani astronauts in China and enabling one to participate in a future mission aboard the Tiangong space station.
In its press release, ISPR said Suparco had successfully completed the secondary phase of astronaut selection, describing it as another major milestone for Pakistan’s Human Spaceflight Programme. After an initial screening process conducted within Pakistan, shortlisted candidates were sent to China, where they underwent comprehensive medical, psychological, and aptitude assessments at the Astronauts Centre of China. These evaluations were carried out in line with internationally recognised human spaceflight standards. The rigorous process was designed to ensure that selected candidates meet the demanding physical, mental, and technical requirements associated with space missions, particularly long duration stays aboard an orbital station.
Under the terms of the cooperation agreement, the two shortlisted candidates will now undertake advanced astronaut training at the Astronauts Centre of China for a period of six months. This phase will focus on mission specific preparation, spacecraft systems, emergency procedures, scientific experimentation, and operational tasks aboard the space station. Upon completion of this training, one of the two candidates will be selected for a spaceflight mission scheduled for October or November 2026. The selected astronaut will travel to China’s Tiangong space station, where they will serve as part of the onboard crew for a defined mission period.
ISPR noted that the collaboration is anchored in the Astronaut Cooperation Agreement signed in February 2025 under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The statement highlighted that the prime minister’s vision and support played a central role in enabling Pakistan’s participation in human spaceflight. It also emphasized the backing of the Government of the People’s Republic of China, which selected Pakistan as the first foreign partner to participate in its astronaut programme. This partnership reflects the deepening strategic and scientific ties between the two countries, particularly in high technology and research driven sectors.
At the signing ceremony of the agreement last year, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had stated that Pakistan, in collaboration with China, would send its first manned space mission to China’s space station. CMSA later confirmed that two Pakistani astronauts would be trained in China, with one expected to join a future mission to Tiangong as a payload specialist. CMSA spokesperson Lin Xiqiang explained that the selected astronaut would conduct scientific experiments on behalf of Pakistan while also performing standard crew duties aboard the station. He added that the selection process for Pakistani candidates follows the same three stage structure used for Chinese astronauts, covering preliminary, secondary, and final evaluations.
China’s expanding space programme has increasingly focused on international collaboration since it was barred from participating in the International Space Station in 2011, following restrictions imposed by the United States on cooperation between Nasa and Chinese space agencies. Since then, Beijing has pursued partnerships with countries such as Pakistan to broaden scientific collaboration and research aboard its independently operated space station. Pakistan’s inclusion in the Tiangong programme represents a significant step for its space ambitions and places the country among a small group with direct involvement in human spaceflight missions.
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