Pakistan’s national space agency, SUPARCO, has made significant strides in its human space mission program, which includes sending two Pakistani astronauts, Khurram Dawood and Muhammad Zeeshan Ali, into space for scientific experiments.
According to SUPARCO, both astronauts have been sent to China for advanced training. This historic mission is anticipated to take place in late 2026, during which one of the astronauts will serve as a payload expert on the “Shenzhou” mission. This marks Pakistan’s first participation in a mission to the China Space Station, representing a crucial milestone in the country’s space exploration efforts.
While at the China Space Station, the Pakistani astronauts will conduct several experiments in key fields such as materials science, fluid physics, life sciences, and biotechnology in microgravity. The results of these investigations may significantly contribute to addressing climate change, enhancing food security, and fostering industrial innovation.
With this development, Pakistan joins a select group of countries actively engaged in human spaceflight programs.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has praised SUPARCO for this remarkable achievement, describing it as a practical demonstration of the enduring friendship between Pakistan and China. He emphasised that Pakistan’s selection for the human space mission is a testament to the strong and close relations between the two nations.
