{"id":14374,"date":"2026-11-07T10:43:19","date_gmt":"2026-11-07T10:43:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=14374"},"modified":"2026-11-07T10:43:19","modified_gmt":"2026-11-07T10:43:19","slug":"pakistani-astronaut-to-join-chinas-next-space-station-mission-space-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=14374","title":{"rendered":"Pakistani astronaut to join China\u2019s next space station mission | Space News"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The unnamed individual will be the first foreign national to visit China\u2019s space station as part of Shenzhou-24 mission.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Published On 7 Nov 2026<\/span>7 Nov 2026<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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China\u2019s Manned Space Agency has selected a Pakistani astronaut as a payload specialist for its upcoming Shenzhou-24 mission, making the unnamed individual the first foreign national to visit the country\u2019s space station.<\/p>\n

The Pakistani astronaut would join China\u2019s Shenzhou-24 mission, as part of bilateral cooperation under Beijing\u2019s Belt and Road Initiative, Chinese state media reported on Saturday.<\/p>\n

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China has not identified the astronaut nor given a date of departure, but the mission is expected to take place by the end of the year.<\/p>\n

Pakistani pilots Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud spent months training at the China Astronaut Research and Training Center in Beijing for a mission.<\/p>\n

Last February, Pakistan and China, longstanding strategic and diplomatic partners, entered into an agreement, establishing a Chinese government-led programme to train Pakistani astronauts. China is Pakistan\u2019s largest trading partner and a key foreign investor.<\/p>\n

The China National Space Administration will also deploy Jinnah-1, Pakistan\u2019s inaugural lunar rover. Weighing 35kg (77lb) and fitted with specialised scientific equipment, the rover is tasked with analysing plasma behaviour, radiation, and the composition of lunar soil.<\/p>\n

The training programme includes practical operational exercises and intensive Chinese language lessons to prepare the candidates for the mission.<\/p>\n

Beijing\u2019s China Central Television reported that after completing a short-term in-orbit flight, the astronauts would return to Earth on board the Shenzhou-23 spacecraft.<\/p>\n

China invested heavily in its space programme in recent years \u2013 catching up with its main rival, the United States \u2013 and aims to land astronauts on the Moon by 2030.<\/p>\n

The US, Russia, and China are also racing to build<\/a> nuclear reactors on the Moon. While the US space agency, NASA, announced plans to develop a nuclear reactor on the Moon by the end of 2030, Russia has been working with China and aims to do the same by 2036.<\/p>\n

The reactors will be needed to power the mining of frozen water trapped deep in the moon\u2019s craters, which scientists believe could supply drinking water, air, and rocket fuel for future bases. The reactors would also provide power for lunar bases.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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The unnamed individual will be the first foreign national to visit China\u2019s space station as part of Shenzhou-24 mission. Published On 7 Nov 20267 Nov 2026 China\u2019s Manned Space Agency has selected a Pakistani astronaut as a payload specialist for its upcoming Shenzhou-24 mission, making the unnamed individual the first foreign national to visit the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":{"facebook_2277560469115098_106292521332774":"","twitter_aToxNzczMzI3Njk4OTg4ODUxMjAxOw==_1773327698988851200":""},"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_templately_pack_id":"","_templately_imported_at":"","_templately_source":"","_templately_import_session_id":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14374","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-international-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t