The training equips Pakistani astronauts with practical skills necessary to fully execute missions in space
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif meets Pakistani astronauts in Islamabad on April 23, 2026. Photo: PMO
Two Pakistani astronauts have entered the Astronaut Center of China and are participating in mission training with their Chinese counterparts, with all related work progressing smoothly, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) announced on Saturday.
According to the plan, a Pakistani astronaut will serve as a payload specialist for a short-duration spaceflight mission. They are currently following the program to complete basic education and aerospace engineering training, CMSA spokesman Zhang Jingbo told a news conference in Jiuquan, northwest China.
Two Pakistani astronauts have entered the Astronaut Center of China and are participating in mission training with their Chinese counterparts, with all related work progressing smoothly, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) announced on Saturday pic.twitter.com/ryl1CUhkfx
— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) 23 May 2026
The training focuses on developing practical operational capabilities to ensure that the Pakistani astronauts are fully qualified to carry out the mission, Zhang explained.
Read more: Two Pakistani astronauts selected as candidates for China’s space program
During the initial phase of training, intensive Chinese language instruction will be conducted to strengthen their Chinese skills, including basic Chinese knowledge and the relevant command vocabulary required for mission execution.
CMSA announced in April that two Pakistani astronauts, Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud, had been selected as the final candidates following the completion of the first selection of foreign astronauts for China’s manned space program.
