Pakistani Astronaut to Make History as First Foreigner on China’s Space Station

POLICY WIRE — Beijing, China — A space traveler from Pakistan is scheduled to join the crew of the Shenzhou 24 spacecraft. This upcoming historic mission will see the individual become the first non-Chinese citizen to set foot on Beijing’s orbital space station.

According to data released by the China Manned Space Agency, the astronaut will perform a brief flight in orbit. Following his stint in space, he is expected to return to Earth via the Shenzhou 23 craft, though a specific launch date for the mission has not yet been announced.

This collaboration represents a major milestone for China’s manned space program, as it marks the very first time Chinese astronauts and international partners are conducting a joint flight.

Earlier in the year, Xinhua noted that two Pakistani candidates, Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud, began their rigorous training alongside Chinese peers. The established plan involved selecting one of the two to serve as a payload specialist for a short-term orbital assignment.

While the training curriculum focused heavily on practical operational skills, it also incorporated intensive Chinese-language lessons for the participants.

The flight is a direct result of a bilateral agreement reached between China and Pakistan in February 2025.

China is currently working toward its own crewed lunar landing, targeted for the year 2030. This effort comes as the space race intensifies with the United States, where NASA currently has plans to send astronauts to the lunar surface by 2028.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)em>