Pakistan–China cooperation in outer space has gradually expanded across satellite development, launch support, and their application for national development, as well as technical training on various aspects of space sciences. Within this evolving framework of bilateral space cooperation, on 27 January 2026, a major milestone was achieved with Pakistan shortlisting two astronauts for its first-ever manned spaceflight programme. The shortlisting was completed after a multi-stage evaluation process conducted in coordination with the Astronaut Centre of China (ACC), in accordance with internationally recognised medical, psychological, and technical standards for human spaceflight. As per official details of the mission, after completing six months of advanced training at ACC, one of the shortlisted candidates will join a spaceflight mission aboard China’s Tiangong space station in October or November 2026.

According to the International Academy of Astronautics’ study Future Human Spaceflight: The Need for International Cooperation, human spaceflight is a fundamentally multidisciplinary activity that requires combined participation of engineering, life sciences, mission operations and governance. Scientific objectives of human space missions include research on human physiology, cognition and resilience in microgravity, as well as on human handling of complex space technologies. Participation of Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) in China-led human spaceflight broadens the horizon of upper atmospheric and space research, moving beyond exclusively satellite-based missions to wider scientific fields and the human dimension of space exploration.

An important facet of China–Pakistan space cooperation is to develop specialised human expertise in Pakistan with experience of working realities of human spaceflight. The training of astronauts at the ACC could be leveraged by Pakistan in its national scientific research and academic institutes for establishing training programmes in space exploration, thereby further expanding Pakistan’s expertise in space research with long-term benefits. Speaking at the signing ceremony of the Pakistan–China Astronaut Cooperation Agreement in Islamabad in February 2025, Chairman of SUPARCO, emphasised that the human spaceflight initiative will add to Pakistan’s scientific progress and signify a commitment to expanding the country’s role in space sciences. This also underscores that Pakistan’s planned manned space mission is not a one-off event but a long-term capacity-building endeavour for laying the foundation for sustained participation in human space activities.

Pakistan’s cooperation with China in human spaceflight is a pragmatic approach focused on gaining expertise from a leading spacefaring nation. The collaboration can provide Pakistan with the requisite knowledge on planning and conducting manned space missions, as well as carrying out scientific research, especially in the microgravity environment. Given Pakistan’s evolving technological capacity and growing institutional infrastructure, pursuing human spaceflight through international collaboration reflects a forward-looking and carefully calibrated approach. Cooperation with China enables Pakistan to accelerate learning, optimise resource utilisation, and advance its space objectives within a structured and sustainable framework.

In a press conference held in Beijing in February 2026, Lin Xiqiang, spokesperson of the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA), clarified that the astronaut selected for the mission would conduct scientific experiments on behalf of Pakistan while also performing regular crew duties aboard the space station. He further added, “Two Pakistani astronauts will conduct training together with Chinese astronauts. Following this, one will be chosen to conduct a short-duration spaceflight mission as a payload specialist. According to the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau of the Hong Kong government, “during space missions, payload specialists are mainly responsible for conducting aerospace experiments and managing daily operations of space stations with other astronauts.”

The human spaceflight mission is one aspect of Pakistan-China cooperation in space.  The space cooperation between the two countries has developed through sustained collaboration in satellites and technical capacity-building. China has supported Pakistan in the launch of key space assets, including PakSat-1R, PakSat-MM1, PRSS-1, and the recently launched EO-2 satellite, providing technical assistance, launch services, and training support. These missions have strengthened Pakistan’s capabilities in satellite communications, Earth observation, and space-based data utilisation for national development and reflect the expansion of bilateral cooperation across multiple domains of space activity.

These areas of cooperation are further complemented by common positions on outer space issues. Pakistan considers outer space as the “common heritage of humankind” and maintains that it should exclusively be used for peaceful purposes. At the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (UNCOPUOS), Pakistan has constantly emphasised that space activities must be conducted in a peaceful, transparent, sustainable and safe manner in accordance with relevant international law. China has also consistently maintained in official policy statements and at relevant United Nations forums that outer space should remain reserved for peaceful purposes and governed through international cooperation. Both countries have supported each other’s positions in multilateral forums dealing with outer space governance, including UNCOPUOS and discussions related to Prevention of an Arms Race in Ouster Space (PAROS) in the Conference on Disarmament (CD).

Governmental backing has also been crucial in advancing Pakistan’s space programme. At the agreement signing ceremony in February 2025, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described the spaceflight initiative as a step toward deepening bilateral cooperation in space science. Subsequently, in fiscal year 2025-26, the federal government proposed enhancement in budgetary support for the SUPARCO. This support is important for Pakistan’s space programme’s long-term policy consistency and continuity.

The shortlisting of astronauts is an important step in Pakistan’s expanding space research activities. Completion of this phase of the manned spaceflight mission will strengthen institutional expertise, reinforce adherence to international standards, and contribute to the steady development of the national space programme. In broader context, this initiative reflects the enduring character of Pakistan–China space cooperation and China’s role in supporting Pakistan’s long-term space objectives, as well as sustained national policy support and institutional commitment for consolidating bilateral cooperation.

Zeeshan Hyder is a research officer at the Center for International Strategic Studies Sindh (CISSS), Pakistan.