Pakistan has reached a milestone in its human spaceflight program as the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission completed the secondary phase of astronaut candidate selection, the military’s media wing said Friday.
The Inter-Services Public Relations said that after an initial screening in Pakistan, two candidates were shortlisted following comprehensive medical, psychological and aptitude assessments at the Astronaut Center of China. The evaluations were carried out in line with international human spaceflight standards.
Next phase of training
The shortlisted candidates will now undergo six months of advanced astronaut training at the center in China. After completing the program, one of them will be selected to take part in a spaceflight mission aboard the Chinese space station, scheduled for October or November 2026.
ISPR said the cooperation is based on a bilateral astronaut agreement signed in February 2025 under the leadership of Pakistan’s prime minister. The agreement and the government’s support played a key role in enabling Pakistan’s participation in human spaceflight, it said.
The statement added that the initiative also reflects support from the Chinese government, which selected Pakistan as the first foreign partner in its astronaut program.
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