Pakistani Astronaut to Make History as First Foreign Crew Member on China’s Tiangong Space Station

A Pakistani astronaut is set to make history by joining China’s Shenzhou-24 space mission as a payload specialist, becoming the first foreign astronaut to visit and work aboard China’s Tiangong space station.

The China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) announced the historic development on November 7, 2026, marking a major milestone in space cooperation between Pakistan and China.

According to the announcement, the Pakistani astronaut will travel to the Tiangong space station aboard the Shenzhou-24 mission. The mission's official patch features jasmine, Pakistan’s national flower, symbolising the close friendship between the two countries.

The Pakistani astronaut is expected to undertake a short stay in orbit before returning to Earth aboard the Shenzhou-23 spacecraft. The mission will mark the first joint Chinese-foreign crewed spaceflight.

The development follows a cooperation agreement signed between China and Pakistan in February 2025 to facilitate Pakistan’s participation in China’s human spaceflight programme.

Following a rigorous three-stage selection process, two Pakistani reserve astronauts were selected. One has been designated as the primary crew member for the mission, while the other will serve as a backup.

The historic participation is expected to open a new chapter in Pakistan’s space programme and further strengthen scientific, technological and strategic cooperation between Islamabad and Beijing.