By our correspondent
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has taken a significant step toward its first human spaceflight mission after the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) successfully completed the secondary phase of astronaut candidate selection, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) announced on Saturday.
The milestone marks a major development in Pakistan’s Human Spaceflight Program. Following an initial screening in Pakistan, two candidates were shortlisted after undergoing comprehensive medical, psychological, and aptitude assessments at the Astronauts Centre of China (ACC), in accordance with international standards for human spaceflight.
The two shortlisted candidates will now enter a six-month period of advanced astronaut training at the ACC. Upon successful completion of the program, one candidate will be chosen to take part in a spaceflight mission aboard the Chinese Space Station (CSS), tentatively scheduled for October or November 2026.
The ISPR noted that the program is part of the bilateral Astronaut Cooperation Agreement signed in February 2025 under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The agreement, officials said, reflects the prime minister’s vision and support, which were pivotal in enabling Pakistan’s participation in human spaceflight initiatives.
China’s government has also played a key role in the initiative, selecting Pakistan as the first foreign partner in its astronaut program, further highlighting the growing collaboration between the two countries in advanced scientific and technological fields.
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