{"id":124581,"date":"2026-04-22T18:34:28","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T13:34:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nationaltimes.pk\/eng\/?p=124581"},"modified":"2026-04-22T18:34:30","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T13:34:30","slug":"2-pakistani-astronauts-selected-as-candidates-for-chinas-space-programme","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nationaltimes.pk\/eng\/2026\/124581\/","title":{"rendered":"2 Pakistani astronauts selected as candidates for China\u2019s space programme"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Web Desk(National Times)- China has selected two Pakistani astronauts as candidates for its manned space programme, state broadcaster\u00a0CCTV<\/em>\u00a0reported on Wednesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both will travel to China for training, and one will participate in a flight mission as a payload specialist and become the first foreign astronaut in China\u2019s space station, CCTV<\/em> said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, China Daily<\/em><\/a> reported on Wednesday that the astronauts were identified as Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud. The report said the two had passed multiple rounds of selection procedures and will soon come to China to take part in spaceflight training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It quoted the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) as saying that the selection and training of Pakistani astronauts was a \u201clandmark event in the history of China\u2019s space industry\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Separately, in a statement issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Pakistan\u2019s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) said the astronauts were set to depart for China to \u201cbegin advanced astronaut training at the Astronaut Centre of China (ACC)\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It stressed that the development was a \u201csignificant step forward in Pakistan\u2019s space exploration journey that positions the country in the community of a select group of nations actively engaged in human spaceflight programs\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As per Suparco, \u201cunder this collaboration, Pakistan is preparing for its first-ever participation in a mission to the China Space Station (CSS)\u201d, which the space agency said is planned for launch in late 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cDuring mission aboard the CSS, the Pakistani astronaut will conduct several scientific experiments in microgravity,\u201d as per the statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It added that the experiments span \u201ccritical areas including material science, fluid physics, life\/bio science, and biotechnology, with potential applications for climate resilience, food security, and industrial innovation\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suparco further stated that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had commended the efforts of the space agency, terming the development \u201ca harbinger of deep space exploration\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the statement, the premier noted that the partnership with China was \u201cyet another testimony\u201d of Pakistan-China friendship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In February 2025, Suparco and CMSA had signed<\/u><\/a> a cooperation agreement. Under the pact, two Pakistanis were to train in China, with one joining a mission on the Tiangong space station operated by Beijing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In February this year, two astronauts were shortlisted <\/a>for Pakistan\u2019s Human Spaceflight Programme by the Astronauts Centre of China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

China has been barred from particip\u00adating in the International Space Station since 2011, when the US prohibited Nasa from collaborating with Chinese space agencies. Since then, Beijing has sought to build partnerships with other countries \u2014 including Pakistan \u2014 in its expanding space programme.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Web Desk(National Times)- China has selected two Pakistani astronauts as candidates for its manned space programme, state broadcaster\u00a0CCTV\u00a0reported on Wednesday. Both will travel to China for training, and one will participate in a flight mission as a payload specialist and become the first foreign astronaut in China\u2019s space station, CCTV said. Meanwhile, China Daily reported on Wednesday that the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":124582,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-124581","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest_news","entry"],"yoast_head":"\n2 Pakistani astronauts selected as candidates for China\u2019s space programme - Nation<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/nationaltimes.pk\/eng\/2026\/124581\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"2 Pakistani astronauts selected as candidates for China\u2019s space programme - Nation\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Web Desk(National Times)- China has selected two Pakistani astronauts as candidates for its manned space programme, state broadcaster\u00a0CCTV\u00a0reported on Wednesday. Both will travel to China for training, and one will participate in a flight mission as a payload specialist and become the first foreign astronaut in China\u2019s space station, CCTV said. 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