The Celestial Silk Road: Pakistan’s First Astronauts To Take 'Chinese Shortcut' To Space?

Last Updated:April 23, 2026, 01:31 IST

While both Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud will undergo the full curriculum of Chinese spaceflight systems, one will be chosen as a payload specialist for a 2026 mission

In a historic expansion of Beijing’s orbital ambitions, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) has officially selected its first two international astronaut candidates. Both recruits are from Pakistan, marking a definitive shift in the “all-weather" strategic partnership between the two nations from terrestrial infrastructure to deep-space exploration. According to an announcement on April 22, Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud have cleared rigorous preliminary rounds and are set to depart for the Astronaut Centre of China (ACC) to begin advanced mission training.

This development is not merely a diplomatic gesture; it represents the first time China will train and host foreign nationals aboard its permanent space station, Tiangong. While both men will undergo the full curriculum of Chinese spaceflight systems, one will ultimately be chosen as a payload specialist for a mission scheduled to launch as early as late 2026.

Who are the two candidates heading to Beijing?

The selection of Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud is the culmination of a bilateral agreement signed in February 2025 between Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) and the CMSA. The candidates were selected through a merit-based process that targeted individuals with exceptional academic backgrounds and physical endurance, including experienced pilots and PhD holders in aerospace-related fields.

Zeeshan Ali and Daud will serve as “reserve astronauts" during their training in China. Their curriculum will focus on mastering the Tiangong space station’s three-module configuration and the Shenzhou spacecraft’s operations. For Pakistan, having two candidates in the pipeline ensures a redundant path to achieving its first human presence in orbit, a milestone Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has described as a “harbinger of deep space exploration" for the nation.

What is the role of a ‘payload specialist’ on Tiangong?

Upon completing their assessments, the successful Pakistani astronaut will join a future Shenzhou mission not as a pilot but as a payload specialist. This role is scientifically intensive; rather than focusing on the navigation of the spacecraft, the specialist is responsible for managing complex scientific experiments and technology testing in microgravity.

The mission is expected to involve a wide array of research, including biological and medical sciences, fluid mechanics, and space radiation studies. By conducting these experiments on behalf of Pakistan, the astronaut will help the country build a niche in space-based research that can be applied to terrestrial industries like medicine and materials science. This makes the mission a functional scientific endeavour rather than just a symbolic flight.

Why is this mission a landmark for international space cooperation?

The inclusion of Pakistani astronauts on Tiangong signals China’s intent to position its space station as a global alternative to the International Space Station (ISS), which is slated for decommissioning by 2030. Since China has been excluded from the ISS due to US legislative restrictions, Beijing has moved to build its own “community with a shared future" in Earth’s orbit.

By making Pakistan its first international partner for human spaceflight, China is demonstrating the “open attitude" of its space programme to the Global South. For Pakistan, this partnership provides a high-tech shortcut to human spaceflight without the multibillion-dollar cost of developing domestic launch capabilities. Beyond orbit, the two countries are already looking further; China has already confirmed plans to launch a Pakistani lunar rover as part of the Chang’e-8 mission in 2028, solidifying a long-term roadmap for Sino-Pak exploration that extends to the lunar surface.

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