China to send Pakistani astronaut on short-term space mission

BEIJING: In a landmark development in space cooperation, China has announced plans to send a Pakistani astronaut on a short-term mission aboard its space station, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) confirmed at a press conference on Thursday.

According to Xinhua, China’s official state news agency, two Pakistani astronauts will receive training alongside Chinese astronauts. One of them will be selected to participate in a short-duration spaceflight mission as a payload specialist.

The arrangement is part of the medium-term planning and cooperation framework under China’s space station program. The CMSA spokesperson stated that the initial stage of the astronaut selection process is currently being conducted in Pakistan, while the final selection and training will take place in China.

Preparations for the secondary selection phase are already underway, including training programs, instructional materials, equipment setup, and logistical arrangements for the astronauts’ daily needs during the training period.

Under the bilateral cooperation plan, one Pakistani astronaut will ultimately be chosen for the mission. During the flight, the astronaut will not only participate in routine space station operations but will also conduct scientific experiments on behalf of Pakistan, the CMSA spokesperson added.

This collaboration marks a historic milestone in the Pakistan-China partnership and underscores their growing cooperation in science, technology, and space exploration.

Earlier, Pakistan successfully launched its first hyperspectral satellite, HS-1, into space from China’s Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.

A team of Pakistani scientists and engineers was present at the launch site to oversee the mission.

According to the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), the satellite will undergo in-orbit testing for two months following its successful deployment.

The hyperspectral satellite is designed to assist in forecasting floods, landslides, and other natural disasters, while also contributing to environmental monitoring and early detection of geological risks.

Officials stated that this mission marks a major milestone under Pakistan’s National Space Policy and Vision 2047.