2 publishers · first seen Sat, 07 Nov 2026 04:34 UTC · updated Sat, 07 Nov 2026 11:39 UTC
A Pakistani astronaut will join China's Shenzhou-24 mission, making them the first foreigner to visit China's space station, according to the China Manned Space Agency. The unnamed astronaut will complete a short on-orbit flight and return to Earth aboard the Shenzhou-23 spacecraft. The mission, expected by the end of the year, marks the first joint flight involving Chinese and foreign astronauts in China's manned space program. Two Pakistani candidates, Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud, have been training in China for the mission, with one selected as a payload specialist. The training includes practical operational exercises and intensive Chinese language instruction. The mission is part of an agreement signed by China and Pakistan in February 2025, reflecting their close diplomatic and strategic partnership.
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