China's Manned Space Agency has selected an unnamed Pakistani astronaut as a payload specialist for its Shenzhou-24 mission, making the individual the first foreign national to visit the country's space station. The mission is expected to take place by the end of the year.
The selection is part of bilateral cooperation under Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative. In February, Pakistan and China entered into an agreement establishing a Chinese government-led programme to train Pakistani astronauts. Two Pakistani pilots, Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud, spent months training at the China Astronaut Research and Training Center in Beijing. The programme includes practical operational exercises and intensive Chinese language lessons.
China is Pakistan's largest trading partner and a key foreign investor. The China National Space Administration will also deploy Jinnah-1, Pakistan's inaugural lunar rover. Weighing 35 kilograms, the rover is tasked with analysing plasma behaviour, radiation and the composition of lunar soil.
China has invested heavily in its space programme and aims to land astronauts on the moon by 2030. The US, Russia and China are also competing to build nuclear reactors on the lunar surface to support mining of frozen water. Beijing's China Central Television reported that after a short-term in-orbit flight, the astronauts would return to Earth on the Shenzhou-23 spacecraft.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- This marks the first time a foreign national will board China's space station, reflecting China's growing ambitions to lead international space cooperation.
- It strengthens the strategic partnership between Pakistan and China, extending into space exploration and technology.
- The mission could signal a shift in the global space landscape as more countries seek partnerships with China.
Background
China launched the core module of its Tiangong space station in 2021 and completed construction in 2023, creating its first long-term crewed space outpost. Pakistan and China have longstanding economic and diplomatic ties. China is Pakistan's largest trading partner and a major investor. The Jinnah-1 lunar rover represents Pakistan's first step into lunar exploration.
What to Watch
- The official naming of the Pakistani astronaut and the launch date of Shenzhou-24.
- The deployment and scientific results of the Jinnah-1 lunar rover.
- Whether other countries pursue similar astronaut-training agreements with China.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.
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- SupportedChina’s Manned Space Agency selected a Pakistani astronaut as a payload specialist for Shenzhou-24.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “China’s Manned Space Agency has selected a Pakistani astronaut as a payload specialist for its upcoming Shenzhou-24 mission”
- SupportedThe unnamed astronaut will be the first foreign national to visit China’s space station.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “making the unnamed individual the first foreign national to visit the country’s space station.”
- SupportedThe mission is expected to take place by the end of the year.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “China has not identified the astronaut nor given a date of departure, but the mission is expected to take place by the end of the year.”
- SupportedThe selection is part of bilateral cooperation under Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “The Pakistani astronaut would join China’s Shenzhou-24 mission, as part of bilateral cooperation under Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative, Chinese state media reported on Saturday.”
- SupportedPakistan and China entered an agreement in February establishing a Chinese government-led programme to train Pakistani astronauts.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Last February, Pakistan and China, longstanding strategic and diplomatic partners, entered into an agreement, establishing a Chinese government-led programme to train Pakistani astronauts.”
- SupportedChina’s National Space Administration will deploy Jinnah-1, Pakistan’s inaugural lunar rover.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “The China National Space Administration will also deploy Jinnah-1, Pakistan’s inaugural lunar rover.”
- SupportedJinnah-1 weighs 35 kilograms.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Weighing 35kg (77lb) and fitted with specialised scientific equipment”
- SupportedJinnah-1 is tasked with analysing plasma behaviour, radiation and lunar soil composition.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “the rover is tasked with analysing plasma behaviour, radiation, and the composition of lunar soil.”
- Partly supportedChina has invested heavily in its space programme.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “China invested heavily in its space programme in recent years – catching up with its main rival, the United States – and aims to land astronauts on the Moon by 2030.”
- SupportedChina aims to land astronauts on the Moon by 2030.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “and aims to land astronauts on the Moon by 2030.”
- SupportedThe US, Russia and China are competing to build lunar reactors to support mining frozen water.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “The US, Russia, and China are also racing to build nuclear reactors on the Moon. ... The reactors will be needed to power the mining of frozen water trapped deep in the moon’s craters”
- SupportedChina Central Television reported that after a short-term in-orbit flight, the astronauts would return to Earth aboard Shenzhou-23.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Beijing’s China Central Television reported that after completing a short-term in-orbit flight, the astronauts would return to Earth on board the Shenzhou-23 spacecraft.”