A Pakistani astronaut will join China’s space station on the Shenzhou‑24 mission, becoming the first foreign visitor aboard Tiangong, according to Reuters and Chinese state media. The astronaut, whose name has not yet been disclosed, is slated to serve as a payload specialist during the short in‑orbit flight.
Both pilots, Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud, have spent months training at the China Astronaut Research and Training Center in Beijing, a Pakistani space agency official told Reuters in September. Their preparation is part of a bilateral cooperation under China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
Beijing has not yet announced the launch date of the Shenzhou‑24 flight. Following the mission, the astronaut will return to Earth aboard the Shenzhou‑23 spacecraft, marking the first joint spaceflight that includes Chinese and foreign astronauts in China’s manned program.
This mission highlights China’s growing role in international space collaboration and the deepening ties between China and Pakistan. It also signals a broader trend of space diplomacy, as China opens its station to partners beyond its borders.
