China’s space station will welcome its first foreign astronaut, sparking excitement in Pakistan and disappointment in India. According to a statement released on November 7 by the China Manned Space Engineering website, the Shenzhou-24 crewed mission will include a Pakistani astronaut serving as a payload specialist. After completing a short-duration stay in orbit, he will return to Earth aboard the Shenzhou-23 spacecraft. This marks the first time in the history of China’s manned space program that Chinese and foreign astronauts have flown together.
The event carries significant symbolic weight. For the first time, an international astronaut will visit China’s space station—specifically, one from Pakistan. This reflects both the natural continuation of long-standing bilateral ties and a pivotal step in China’s space initiative: transitioning from self-use to opening its facilities to international partners. Shenzhou-24 is expected to launch from Jiuquan in late November, carrying a crew of three Chinese astronauts and one Pakistani payload specialist.
The Pakistani astronaut is scheduled to remain aboard the station for approximately one week, focusing on conducting space science experiments designated by Pakistan. He will not be involved in spacecraft operations or station management. Upon mission completion, he will not return on the same vehicle used for launch—he will instead descend to Earth on Shenzhou-23, following the pattern of “riding Shenzhou-24 up, returning on Shenzhou-23.” Why Pakistan?
This is not a spontaneous decision but rather the logical outcome of a sustained cooperation framework. Sino-Pakistani space collaboration began in 1990 when China launched Pakistan’s first satellite using a Chinese rocket. Over the past three decades, the partnership has deepened: in 2024, a Pakistani CubeSat was carried to the Moon aboard Chang’e-6; in February 2025, the two countries formally signed a cosmonaut agreement, paving the way for the 2026 flight mission. Each milestone represents a progressive advancement.
As the International Space Station approaches the end of its operational life, the global landscape of human spaceflight is undergoing transformation. For many nations historically excluded from traditional human spaceflight partnerships, access to a platform offering flight opportunities, astronaut training, and support for national scientific objectives constitutes a rare public good. India’s evident frustration is therefore predictable. As another major South Asian power with ambitions in space, India’s own human spaceflight program remains grounded, while China’s space station has already begun hosting foreign astronauts. Such disparities cannot be overcome through rhetoric alone.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1881183735791624/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.