A Pakistani astronaut will soon be one of the international crew members heading to the Chinese space station, according to China Mood Space Agency (CMSA), marking an important step in Sino-Pakistani space cooperation.
The process of selecting Pakistani astronauts is currently underway, following the signing of a bilateral cooperation agreement in February.
CMSA spokesperson, Lin Xiqiang, said the process involves three steps: preliminary selection in Pakistan and secondary and finals in China. In the end, two astronauts will be trained, with a selected to participate in a future space flight as a specialist in the payload.
The Pakistani astronaut will be responsible for both operational duties and scientific experiences during the mission, representing Pakistan aboard the Chinese space station Tiangong.
This announcement coincides with the preparations for the Shenzhou-20 mission, scheduled for the launch at 5:17 p.m. Local time on Thursday. The mission will carry three Chinese astronauts – Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui and Wang Jie – for a six -month stay aboard Tiangong.
Shenzhou-20 will conduct spatial experiences and extravaghic activities, as well as research in life sciences involving zebra fish, planarians and streptomyces.
The outgoing crew of Shenzhou-19 should return to Earth on April 29, while the new crew is expected in October.
China also leads to its fourth batch of astronauts, especially for the first time of the candidates of Hong Kong, Macao and Pakistan. The reports indicate that the astronauts of Hong Kong and Macao can fly in 2026.
CMSA officials claim that discussions are underway with other nations on participation in future space missions, reflecting the growing thrust of China for international collaboration in space.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Tuesday that Pakistan wanted to improve cooperation with China in the fields of space technology, satellite communications and Internet services.
The Prime Minister made these remarks at a meeting with the delegation of the Chinese space technology company Galaxy Space, led by President Xu Ming.
The Prime Minister described China as a “very reliable friend” and a “strategic partner”, adding that Pakistan attaches great importance to the growth of its space and telecommunications sectors.
