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In a move that marks a new chapter in Pakistan’s space ambitions, China has announced plans to send a Pakistani astronaut to its Tiangong Space Station for a short-term mission. The announcement, reported by Reuters on Thursday, underscores a deepening space cooperation between the two nations amid Pakistan’s growing reliance on China for technological and scientific advancement. According to Chinese state agency Xinhua, two Pakistani astronauts will undergo extensive training alongside Chinese taikonauts, following which one will be selected as a “special scientific payload specialist” for the upcoming space mission. This will be Pakistan’s first human spaceflight participation, made possible through collaboration with China’s Manned Space Agency (CMSA). Earlier this year, Pakistan’s space agency, the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), signed a landmark agreement with CMSA to initiate joint space cooperation. The accord allows Pakistani astronauts to receive professional training at China’s Astronaut Centre, preparing them for specialised experiments aboard the Tiangong station. The selected astronaut will participate in scientific experiments covering a range of disciplines including microgravity research, biology, medicine, aerospace engineering, materials science, and astronomy. These experiments, conducted in Tiangong’s advanced laboratories, are expected to contribute to developments in health science, climate monitoring, and space technology. China has emphasised that the Tiangong Space Station is equipped with state-of-the-art laboratories and external payload adapters, facilitating simultaneous research in multiple scientific domains. The mission reportedly aims to foster collaboration in space-based science that could benefit Earth through innovations in medical research and environmental studies. Pakistan’s participation comes at a time when India is rapidly advancing its own space ambitions. Following astronaut Shubhamshu Shukla’s successful return from the International Space Station (ISS), India is now preparing for an indigenous space station under ISRO’s long-term plan. Unlike India, however, Pakistan lacks a fully developed space agency of comparable scale and continues to depend on international partnerships, particularly with China, to pursue its extraterrestrial goals. China’s announcement highlights a symbolic milestone for Pakistan’s aspirations to enter the elite league of nations with human spaceflight experience. The mission not only signifies growing China-Pakistan collaboration but also positions China as a pivotal partner in shaping Pakistan’s future in space exploration.
