{
  "id": 10383771,
  "title": "China's space diplomacy lifts Pakistani astronaut toward orbit",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/28/chinas-space-diplomacy-lifts-pakistani-astronaut-toward-orbit-10383771",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-28T06:07:11.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn",
    "slug": "dawn",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2033244/chinas-space-diplomacy-lifts-pakistani-astronaut-toward-orbit"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "China's space diplomacy is propelling Pakistani astronaut Zeeshan Ali or Khurram Daud toward orbit. The Pakistani pilots are mastering Mandarin, undergoing centrifuge drills, and learning to live in microgravity as a decision looms on who will become the first foreign astronaut on China's Tiangong space station. This mission would be a first for Pakistan, and it's part of the broader Belt and Road Initiative cooperation between the two nations. The Pakistani spacecraft industry has already launched Pakistani satellites, developed a joint satellite-navigation system, and designed a lunar rover for China's upcoming Chang'e 8 mission around 2028. The two pilots have been training at China's Astronaut Research and Training Center in Beijing for a mission that was conceived in 2019, according to Amer Gilani, who oversees human spaceflight cooperation at Pakistan's space agency, Suparco. China has not disclosed which pilot will fly or when, but a final selection is expected in mid-to-late October. The chosen astronaut will not return to Pakistan until launch and will instead embark directly from training in China, returning home after a recovery period post-return to Earth. Training includes intensive Chinese language instruction, learning spacecraft systems, and adapting to both microgravity and the g-forces of launch. Pakistan's selection process for the astronaut involved beating out around 20 finalists from an initial pool of pilots and scientists. The two selected pilots were chosen for their backgrounds in high-speed flying, medical fitness, psychological resilience, and tolerance for g-forces, which few scientists possess. Once in space, the Pakistani astronaut will carry the title of \"payload specialist,\" responsible for running Pakistan's science experiments aboard the station. The scientific payload consists of biotechnology experiments addressing food insecurity and climate change, built and pre-tested in Suparco's own labs before Chinese validation. This mission marks the first time China has transported a foreign astronaut into space, relying on Beijing for a spacecraft, training, and communication in Mandarin. Pakistan lacks an independent launch vehicle or crewed spacecraft, and the Pakistani astronaut's stay will be about a week, a fraction of the six-month rotations of Chinese crew members. The Pakistani-built lunar rover for China's Chang'e 8 mission, scheduled for launch around 2028, is a separate collaboration, utilizing AI-based stereo imaging to navigate the lunar surface.",
  "summary": "Two Pakistani pilots are memorising Mandarin, spinning in centrifuge drills and learning to eat, sleep and repair equipment while weightless as a decision nears on which one will become the first foreign astronaut aboard China’s Tiangong space station. The voyage into space would be a first for the South Asian nation. It is part of broader cooperation with Beijing that straddles the Belt and Road…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "China's space diplomacy lifts Pakistani astronaut toward orbit",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/28/chinas-space-diplomacy-lifts-pakistani-astronaut-toward-orbit",
        "published": "2026-09-28T02:09:59.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Business Recorder",
        "title": "China's space diplomacy lifts Pakistani astronaut toward orbit",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/28/chinas-space-diplomacy-lifts-pakistani-astronaut-toward-orbit-10352363",
        "published": "2026-09-28T03:37:15.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}