Pakistan will make history in 2026 by sending its first astronaut into space, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal has announced—a milestone that signals the country’s entry into human spaceflight.
Collaboration with China
The project is being carried out under a joint program between Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) and China’s manned space agency. Beijing has already opened its astronaut training facilities to Pakistani candidates, underscoring China’s growing role as a partner for countries looking to access space.
Selection and Training
Two Pakistani candidates have been shortlisted to undergo specialized training at China’s astronaut center. Only one will ultimately be chosen as a payload specialist, tasked with joining the crew on China’s space station. The process of training and evaluation began this year and will wrap up by 2026, setting the stage for Pakistan’s first space mission.
Mission Goals
The selected astronaut will not just be a symbolic passenger. They will conduct research in areas such as biology, medicine, material sciences, fluid mechanics, and environmental studies—experiments that could contribute to both Pakistan’s scientific development and global space research.
Why It Matters
For Pakistan, a country where space ambitions have often lagged behind due to limited resources, this mission represents more than national pride. It reflects a strategic move to deepen scientific capacity, strengthen ties with China, and carve a place in the increasingly competitive domain of space exploration.
As Iqbal put it, the mission highlights Pakistan’s intent to expand its footprint in science and technology while reinforcing international cooperation.
