Pakistani Astronaut to Become First Foreign Visitor to China’s Tiangong Space Station

A Pakistani astronaut is set to make history. China has confirmed that a Pakistani crew member will fly to its Tiangong space station aboard the Shenzhou-24 mission, becoming the first foreign astronaut ever to visit the station.

The announcement was made by the China Manned Space Agency on Saturday, 7 November 2026. It marks a major moment for Pakistan’s space programme — and for China’s space station, which has so far only hosted Chinese astronauts.

The Pakistani astronaut will travel to the station as a payload specialist, spend a short time in orbit, and then return to Earth aboard the Shenzhou-23 spacecraft. China has not yet said which of its two Pakistani candidates will fly, and it has not announced a launch date.

This article explains what was announced, who the two candidates are, what a payload specialist does, how Pakistan reached this point, and why the mission matters.

What was announced

China’s space agency said on Saturday that a Pakistani astronaut will join the Shenzhou-24 crewed flight mission as a payload specialist, according to Xinhua, China’s official news agency. The news was also reported by Reuters, citing Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.

The announcement makes the mission a first in two ways. It will be the first time a foreign astronaut visits China’s Tiangong space station. It will also be the first joint flight involving Chinese and foreign astronauts in the history of China’s crewed space programme.

Here is the plan in simple terms:

• The Pakistani astronaut will launch aboard Shenzhou-24 and travel to the Tiangong space station.
• He will carry out a short stay in orbit, working on scientific experiments.
• After the mission, he will return to Earth aboard Shenzhou-23, a different spacecraft that is already connected to the station.

China has not announced the launch date, and the final crew is normally named only the day before launch. The mission emblem for Shenzhou-24 was also released on Saturday.

Who are the two Pakistani candidates?

China has not yet said which Pakistani astronaut will fly. Two candidates have been chosen, and both are pilots. Their names are Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud.

Both men were selected by Pakistan’s space agency, the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission, known as SUPARCO. They have spent months training at the China Astronaut Research and Training Center in Beijing, alongside Chinese astronauts.

After completing all their training and passing their assessments in China, one of them will be chosen to carry out the flight. The other will serve as the backup, ready to step in if needed.

Neither candidate is a stranger to flying. Both are trained pilots, and both went through a long and demanding selection process before they were picked. Only one of them will get the seat on Shenzhou-24, but both have already made history by becoming Pakistan’s first astronaut candidates for a crewed spaceflight.

What is a payload specialist?

The Pakistani astronaut will fly as a payload specialist. That title may sound technical, but the job is easy to understand.

On a space mission, there are different roles. The commander leads the crew. The flight engineers fly and operate the spacecraft. A payload specialist is the scientist of the team. Their main job is to look after the experiments and equipment carried into space — the “payload”.

In this case, the Pakistani astronaut will mainly work on scientific experiments, including experiments prepared in Pakistan, and other space application tasks. He will not be flying the spacecraft. Instead, his job is to make sure the science gets done properly during the short stay in orbit.

This is a common role in spaceflight. Many countries that send their first astronauts into space send them as payload specialists, because the role focuses on science rather than piloting the spacecraft.

How Pakistan got here

This mission did not happen overnight. It is the result of an agreement signed more than a year ago.

In February 2025, China and Pakistan signed a cooperation agreement on astronaut selection, training and participation in Chinese space station flight missions. The agreement was signed in Islamabad between the China Manned Space Agency and SUPARCO, and it officially launched the selection of astronauts from Pakistan.

After the agreement, Pakistan ran a selection process with three stages — a first round, a second round and a final round. At the end of that process, two reserve astronauts were selected: Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud.

In April 2026, China’s space agency confirmed that both men had entered the China Astronaut Research and Training Center to train alongside Chinese astronauts. They have been training in Beijing ever since, preparing for the flight.

The mission is part of the wider cooperation between China and Pakistan under Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative, the large infrastructure and cooperation programme that links the two countries. Space cooperation is now one more part of that partnership.

What is the Tiangong space station?

Tiangong is China’s space station, orbiting Earth. Its name means “Heavenly Palace” in Chinese.

The station was built in orbit piece by piece. Its main section, called the Tianhe core module, was launched in 2021. Two laboratory modules, Wentian and Mengtian, were added in 2022, completing the station’s basic shape — a T-shaped structure with room for astronauts to live and work.

Since then, Chinese astronauts have visited the station on regular missions, staying for months at a time to run experiments and test new technology. Until now, every astronaut who has visited Tiangong has been Chinese.

That is what makes this mission different. For the first time, the station will welcome a visitor from another country. The Shenzhou-23 spacecraft, which is already docked at the station, carried Hong Kong’s first astronaut, Lai Ka-ying, to Tiangong in May. But the Pakistani astronaut will be the first foreign national — someone from a country other than China — to visit the station.

Why this matters for Pakistan

For Pakistan, this is a landmark moment.

Pakistan has had a space agency, SUPARCO, since 1961, making it one of the oldest space agencies in the developing world. But for most of its history, SUPARCO’s work has been limited to satellites and research on the ground. Pakistan has never sent a person into space.

That is about to change. When the Pakistani astronaut floats into Tiangong, Pakistan will join the small group of countries whose citizens have travelled to space. For a country where space has long felt distant, that is a powerful symbol.

The mission also has a practical side. The astronaut will carry out scientific experiments in orbit, including experiments prepared in Pakistan. Working in space lets scientists study how materials, plants and the human body behave without gravity — research that is difficult or impossible to do on Earth. The results could help Pakistani science in fields such as medicine, agriculture and materials.

There is also the question of inspiration. A Pakistani in space is the kind of event that can change what young people believe is possible. Students who watch the launch may decide to study science, engineering or space technology. Countries that send astronauts often find that the mission inspires a new generation.

Finally, the mission shows that Pakistan can take part in advanced international science projects. It was chosen by China as its first foreign partner for a crewed flight, ahead of other countries. That is a sign of trust between the two countries, and of Pakistan’s growing role in space cooperation.

Why this matters for China

For China, the mission is also important, for different reasons.

China built Tiangong on its own, after it was kept out of the International Space Station. For years, the station has been a Chinese-only project. Opening it to a foreign astronaut is a step towards making it an international station.

China has said for a long time that its space station is open to astronauts from other countries. This mission turns that promise into reality. It is part of what China calls its “space diplomacy” — using space cooperation to build closer ties with other nations.

Pakistan is a natural first partner. The two countries describe each other as close friends, and they already cooperate closely on trade, infrastructure and defence. A joint spaceflight is a visible and symbolic way to show that partnership to the world.

If this mission goes well, more foreign astronauts may follow. China has already said it wants to welcome astronauts from other countries to Tiangong. Pakistan is the first, but it may not be the last.

What happens next

Several things are still to be decided, and they will be watched closely.

First, China will announce the launch date. It has not done so yet. Crewed launches are usually announced only shortly before they happen, and the crew is normally named the day before the flight. That means the final decision on which Pakistani candidate flies may come very late.

Second, the mission itself will be short. The Pakistani astronaut will spend only a brief time in orbit — reports describe it as about a week — before returning on Shenzhou-23. The rest of the Shenzhou-24 crew will stay on the station for a longer mission, expected to last around six months.

Third, the world will be watching the science. The experiments the Pakistani astronaut carries out, and the results they produce, will show what Pakistan gains from the flight beyond the symbolism.

And finally, attention will turn to what comes after. If this mission succeeds, Pakistan and China may plan more cooperation in space — possibly more flights, more joint experiments, or deeper work between SUPARCO and China’s space agency.

Frequently asked questions

Who is the Pakistani astronaut?

China has not yet said which candidate will fly. The two candidates are pilots Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud. One will fly, and the other will be the backup.

When will the mission launch?

China has not announced a launch date. The crew is normally named only the day before the flight, so the final details may come at very short notice.

What will the astronaut do in space?

He will fly as a payload specialist, which means his main job is scientific experiments and space application tasks, including experiments prepared in Pakistan.

How long will he stay in space?

The stay will be short — a brief visit to the station, described in reports as about a week — before he returns to Earth aboard the Shenzhou-23 spacecraft.

Why is this mission historic?

He will be the first foreign astronaut to visit China’s Tiangong space station, and the mission will be the first joint flight involving Chinese and foreign astronauts in China’s crewed space programme.

How was the astronaut chosen?

Pakistan and China signed a cooperation agreement in February 2025. Pakistan then ran a three-stage selection process, and two reserve astronauts were chosen. Both have trained in Beijing since April 2026.

Conclusion

A Pakistani astronaut is about to become the first foreign visitor to China’s space station. The announcement, made on 7 November 2026, turns years of planning and training into a real flight.

For Pakistan, it is a first — the country’s first person in space, and a chance to take part in science that can only be done in orbit. For China, it is the moment its space station becomes international, starting with its closest partner.

Two pilots, Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud, have trained for this moment. Only one will fly, but both have already carried Pakistan into the history of human spaceflight. The launch date is still to be announced — and when it comes, the whole country will be watching.

Sources

• People’s Daily Online (Xinhua), “First foreign astronaut to board Chinese space station”, 7 November 2026: https://peoplesdaily.pdnews.cn/china/er/30053509814
• Duke FM, “Pakistani astronaut to join China space station’s Shenzhou-24 mission”, 6 November 2026: https://duke.fm/2026/11/06/pakistani-astronaut-to-join-china-space-stations-shenzhou-24-mission/
• The Business Standard (TBS News), “Pakistani astronaut to become first foreigner in China’s space station”, 2026: https://www.tbsnews.net/science/pakistani-astronaut-become-first-foreigner-chinas-space-station-1595271
• Wikipedia, “Shenzhou 24” (background on the mission): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shenzhou_24

This article is for general information and education only. It is not legal or financial advice.