Pakistan to Send Astronauts to Chinese Space Station

Pakistan Space & Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) and China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) signed a cooperation agreement. Two Pakistani astronauts will undergo training at the Astronaut Center of China. The astronaut selection process will be completed by 2026, with the aim of flying in an upcoming mission as per CSS planning. One astronaut will be trained as a scientific payload specialist. The mission will conduct experiments in biological, medical, and material sciences, among other fields. The China Space Station is equipped with experimental racks and external adaptors. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hailed the agreement as a cornerstone of Pakistan's aspiration in human spaceflight.