In brief
Al Jazeera reports that China’s Manned Space Agency has selected a Pakistani astronaut to serve as a payload specialist for the Shenzhou‑24 mission, scheduled to launch by year‑end. The astronaut, whose name has not yet been revealed, is part of a training partnership under the Belt and Road Initiative that began in February 2026, and the mission will coincide with the launch of Pakistan’s Jinnah‑1 lunar rover. While the selection underscores deepening China–Pakistan cooperation, several aspects of the flight, such as departure date and the identity of the cosmonaut, remain unconfirmed.
Al Jazeera reported that China’s Manned Space Agency had selected a Pakistani astronaut as a payload specialist for the upcoming Shenzhou‑24 mission, marking the first time a foreign national will join the country’s space station. The astronaut will travel aboard Shenzhou‑24, a spacecraft that is expected to launch by the end of 2026 and dock with the Tiangong station for a short‑term in‑orbit flight before returning aboard Shenzhou‑23.
Although the astronaut’s identity and the exact launch date have not been disclosed, the selection follows a bilateral training program that began last February under the Belt and Road Initiative. Pakistani pilots Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud have already spent months training at the China Astronaut Research and Training Center in Beijing, participating in practical operational exercises and intensive Chinese language lessons to prepare for the mission.
Al Jazeera notes that China and Pakistan, long‑time strategic and diplomatic partners, entered into an agreement to establish a Chinese government‑led programme to train Pakistani astronauts. The partnership dovetails with China’s broader push to deepen its commercial and scientific ties with its largest trading partner and key foreign investor in the region.
In tandem with the astronaut’s arrival, China’s National Space Administration will deploy Jinnah‑1, Pakistan’s inaugural lunar rover. Weighing 35 kg (77 lb) and equipped with specialised scientific instruments, the rover is set to analyse plasma behaviour, radiation levels, and the composition of lunar soil. While Jinnah‑1’s launch has been announced, details of its timeline in relation to the Shenzhou‑24 mission remain pending.
China’s space programme has accelerated in recent years, aiming to land astronauts on the Moon by 2030. The nation is also racing alongside the United States and Russia to establish nuclear reactors on the lunar surface, with NASA announcing plans to build one by the end of 2030 and Russia, working with China, targeting a 2036 launch.
According to Chinese state media, after completing a brief orbital stay, the Pakistani astronaut will return to Earth on board Shenzhou‑23. The mission’s executors have emphasized that the in‑orbit training will focus on microgravity research and station operations, further solidifying cooperation on scientific exchange.
While the announcement underscores a milestone in international collaboration, uncertainties persist. The identity of the Pakistani astronaut, the exact departure window, and the logistical details of integrating Jinnah‑1’s launch with the Shenzhou‑24 timeline have not yet been confirmed. As China’s space agency works through these final details, observers will watch closely to see how the mission unfolds within the rapidly evolving landscape of lunar and orbital exploration.
