China has selected a Pakistani astronaut as a payload specialist for its upcoming Shenzhou-24 mission, according to Chinese state media. This appointment makes the unnamed individual the first foreign national to visit China’s space station.
The selection is part of a broader bilateral cooperation framework under Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative. While the China Manned Space Agency has not publicly identified the astronaut or provided a specific departure date, reports indicate the mission is expected to take place by the end of the year.
Training and Mission Details
Pakistani pilots Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud have been undergoing preparation for this historic flight. The two spent months training at the China Astronaut Research and Training Center in Beijing. Their curriculum included intensive Chinese language lessons and practical operational exercises designed to prepare them for the demands of spaceflight.
According to China Central Television, the astronauts will return to Earth aboard the Shenzhou-23 spacecraft after completing a short-term in-orbit flight. This arrangement allows for a continuous crew rotation on the space station while facilitating the international partnership.
Lunar Exploration and Strategic Ties
The space cooperation extends beyond low Earth orbit. The China National Space Administration will also deploy Jinnah-1, Pakistan’s inaugural lunar rover, as part of the mission’s scientific payload. Weighing 35kg (77lb), the rover is equipped with specialized scientific instruments.
Jinnah-1 is tasked with analyzing plasma behavior, radiation levels, and the composition of lunar soil. This deployment underscores the deepening technical collaboration between the two nations. Pakistan and China entered into an agreement last February to establish a Chinese government-led program for training Pakistani astronauts. China remains Pakistan’s largest trading partner and a key foreign investor.
This mission occurs against a backdrop of intense global competition in space exploration. China has invested heavily in its space program in recent years, aiming to catch up with the United States. Beijing has stated its goal to land astronauts on the Moon by 2030. The United States, Russia, and China are also currently racing to establish nuclear reactors on the lunar surface.
NASA has announced plans to develop a nuclear reactor on the Moon by the end of 2030. Russia is working with China on a similar initiative, with a target completion date of 2036. These reactors are intended to power the mining of frozen water trapped in lunar craters. Scientists believe this water could provide drinking water, air, and rocket fuel for future lunar bases.
Source: Al Jazeera
