Pakistani astronaut selected for China’s Shenzhou-24 mission

Science · First reported 7 Nov, 06:58 · Updated 07:52

Image: Wikimedia Commons · NASA Johnson Space Center / Jonny Kim · Public domain

A Pakistani astronaut has been selected as a payload specialist for China’s Shenzhou-24 mission, which is expected by year’s end. The astronaut’s identity and launch date have not been announced; reports say the crew member will make a short orbital flight and return aboard Shenzhou-23.

China’s Manned Space Agency selected a Pakistani astronaut as a payload specialist for Shenzhou-24, making the person the first foreign national expected to visit China’s space station.
The agency has not named the astronaut or announced a launch date; the mission is expected by the end of the year.
Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud were named as Pakistani candidates who trained in China; the reports do not identify which was selected.
Reports describe a short-term orbital flight, followed by a return to Earth aboard Shenzhou-23.
The mission follows a 2025 China-Pakistan agreement establishing a Chinese government-led astronaut training programme.