A Pakistani astronaut is set to join the crew of the Shenzhou 24 spacecraft, a mission that will make him the first foreign national to board China's space station. According to the China Manned Space Agency, the astronaut will complete a short flight in orbit before returning to Earth on the Shenzhou 23 spacecraft. While the specific launch date has not yet been disclosed, the mission represents the first joint flight involving both Chinese and foreign astronauts in the history of China's manned space program.
The upcoming mission is the result of an agreement signed by China and Pakistan in February 2025. Earlier this year, state media reported that two Pakistani candidates, Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud, began training alongside their Chinese counterparts. The program was designed to select one of them to serve as a payload specialist for the short-term spaceflight. In addition to developing hands-on operational capabilities, the training regimen included intensive instruction in the Chinese language.
This development occurs as China continues to advance its space program, with preparations currently underway for its first crewed lunar landing by 2030. Meanwhile, the United States remains China's primary rival in space exploration, with NASA currently aiming to land astronauts on the lunar surface by 2028.
A Pakistani astronaut will join the crew of China's Shenzhou 24 spacecraft on a mission that would make him the first foreign national to board Beijing's space station, state media reported Saturday.
