Pakistan to Send First Astronaut on Chinese Launch Pad on November 25

At the World Space Week finale in Narowal, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal revealed that Pakistan's first astronaut will depart from a Chinese launch site on November 25, underscoring deepening Sino-Pakistani collaboration in space. He linked the mission to broader ambitions, including a target lunar landing by 2035 and the benefits of space tech for sectors such as agriculture, climate monitoring and national security. The astronaut will be selected from two candidates, Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud, who were chosen by China in April and are currently training in Beijing under Chinese instructors.

A decision on which pilot will fly is expected by mid-to-late October, according to Suparco officials. Once in orbit, the astronaut will act as a payload specialist, focusing on Pakistan's scientific experiments rather than piloting the vehicle. The mission will be conducted entirely on a Chinese-built spacecraft, with communications in Mandarin, reflecting the extensive technical support provided by China.