{
  "id": 15390408,
  "title": "First Pakistani astronaut to undertake space mission from China on Nov 25: Ahsan Iqbal",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/first-pakistani-astronaut-to-undertake-space-mission-from-china-on-15390408",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-10-18T09:32:55.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn - Pakistan",
    "slug": "dawn-pakistan",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2038022/first-pakistani-astronaut-to-undertake-space-mission-from-china-on-nov-25-ahsan-iqbal"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Pakistan's first astronaut, Ahsan Iqbal, will embark on a space mission from a Chinese space center on November 25, according to Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal. The minister revealed this during the closing ceremony of World Space Week in Narowal, which took place in partnership with the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco). Iqbal expressed optimism that the country's collaboration with China would propel it to \"new heights in space exploration\".\n\nDuring his address, Iqbal emphasized the significance of space technology in various sectors, including agriculture, communications, climate monitoring, education, and national security. He underscored that scientific research and space exploration are vital for technological progress. Iqbal also acknowledged that Muslim scholars had once made substantial contributions to astronomy and scientific discovery, advocating for renewed efforts to restore Pakistan's prominence in knowledge and research.\n\nIqbal further disclosed that the selected astronaut will be one of two—pilots Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud—who were chosen by China in April this year and have been receiving rigorous training in Beijing. Although China has not disclosed which pilot will fly or the exact date, Amer Gilani, who manages human spaceflight cooperation at Suparco, revealed that a final decision on the astronaut's selection is anticipated between mid-to-late October.\n\nAccording to another Suparco official quoted by Reuters, the chosen pilot will earn the title of \"payload specialist\" upon reaching space. This designation indicates that the astronaut's primary responsibility in orbit will be to execute Pakistan's scientific experiments, rather than piloting the spacecraft. The astronaut will be aboard a Chinese-built spacecraft, launched from a Chinese site, and trained by Chinese instructors. In orbit, all communication will take place in Mandarin.",
  "summary": "Pakistan’s first astronaut will undertake a space mission from a Chinese space centre on November 25, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal said on Sunday. The minister made the announcement while addressing the concluding ceremony of World Space Week in Narowal, held in collaboration with the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco), the planning ministry said in a statement.…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn",
        "title": "First Pakistani astronaut to undertake space mission from China on Nov 25: Ahsan Iqbal",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/18/first-pakistani-astronaut-to-undertake-space-mission-from-china-on",
        "published": "2026-10-18T09:32:55.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}