Pakistan to Send First Astronaut to China’s Tiangong Space Station Within a Month
Pakistan’s planning minister, Ahsan Iqbal, said the country intends to send its first astronaut to China’s Tiangong space station within the next month. The move is part of the expansion of space cooperation between Pakistan and China and forms part of Pakistan’s long-term plan to land a probe on the moon by 2035.
According to Iqbal, cooperation with China will be an important step in advancing Pakistan’s space research and technology. Two Pakistani pilots, Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Dawood, have been selected as candidates for the mission and have completed the required training in Beijing, but it has not yet been decided which one will go into space.
The selected astronaut will serve as a payload specialist aboard China’s space station and will carry out Pakistan-related scientific experiments. The mission is expected to last about one week.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of World Space Week 2026 in Narowal, which was held for the first time in collaboration with the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), Iqbal said the aim of the event was to raise young people’s awareness of space science, scientific research and new technologies. He also announced plans to establish Pakistan’s first space museum at the University of Narowal, with the goal of encouraging students to pursue space science and technology fields.
The planning minister praised the University of Narowal’s role in securing first place at the Islamabad Science Festival and said the achievement reflected the talent and capability of Pakistani youth. He said easier access to higher education helps students overcome financial barriers and achieve academic progress, while the space museum will create more opportunities for those interested in space research.
Pakistan and China are also working together on a Pakistani lunar probe project for delivery to the moon, which is expected to be sent around 2028 as part of China’s Chang’e-8 mission. The project will deepen the two countries’ space cooperation and support Pakistan’s long-term lunar exploration goals.
