Pakistan Astronaut in Tiangong Space Station: A Historic Space Mission
- Fahad Bin Khalid
- March 7, 2025
- 10:45 am
- 129
- Technology
Pakistan will send its first astronaut to China’s Tiangong space station with the support of China. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced this milestone after SUPARCO and the China Manned Space Agency signed a cooperation agreement. This mission will mark a major step forward for Pakistan’s space program.
Pakistan's First Astronaut Training for Space Mission
Under the new agreement, two Pakistani astronauts will undergo intensive training at China’s Astronaut Centre. One will serve as a scientific payload specialist and conduct advanced research on the Tiangong space station.
- The astronaut selection process will end by 2026.
- The selected astronaut will join a future space mission.
- The astronaut will conduct scientific experiments in space.
This will be Pakistan’s first-ever human spaceflight, showcasing its commitment to space exploration.
Scientific Research in Space
The Pakistan astronaut in Tiangong space station will conduct experiments in multiple fields, including:
- Biology and medicine research.
- Aerospace technology and space physics studies.
- Astronomy and space radiation experiments.
China’s Manned Space Agency confirmed that selecting and training astronauts will take about a year. After training, one astronaut will travel to Tiangong for a short mission.
Pakistan’s Journey into Space
Right now, the highest altitude a Pakistani has reached is 87.4 km. Namira Salim achieved this record during her suborbital Virgin Galactic flight in 2023. This new mission will take a Pakistani astronaut beyond the Kármán line, which is 100 km above Earth.
This will make Pakistan one of the few nations to send a human into space.
Tiangong Space Station and Global Cooperation
The Tiangong space station is one of the largest space stations in orbit. It consists of:
- A core module and two science capsules.
- An orbit of 400 km above Earth.
- A weight of over 100 tons.
The station hosts regular crew and cargo missions. The current crew, Shenzhou XIX, arrived in October and will return in April or May. The Tiangong station is expected to operate for at least 10 more years.
China has also welcomed international partnerships. Astronauts from Italy and Germany have trained in China, and now Pakistan is joining the list.
Pakistan’s Future in Space Exploration
The Pakistan astronaut in Tiangong space station mission strengthens Pakistan-China space cooperation. Officials hope this agreement will inspire other developing countries to invest in space research.
This step brings Pakistan closer to becoming a spacefaring nation. It also opens new opportunities for scientific discoveries and future collaborations. The future of Pakistan’s space program looks bright as it takes its place in global space exploration.
