In a milestone for Pakistan’s space ambitions, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) announced on Wednesday that the selection process for its first astronauts is now underway. Following a bilateral cooperation agreement signed in late February, Pakistani candidates will compete through a rigorous three-stage process to join the China Space Station as payload specialists.
The three stages of selection:
- Preliminary selection in Pakistan
- Secondary selection in China
- Final selection in China
Ultimately, two candidates will earn their spot in a training program at the China Space Station. According to CMSA, one of these astronauts will fly aboard a joint mission as a payload specialist. Beyond daily crew duties, this astronaut will lead and operate scientific experiments on behalf of Pakistan, marking a significant step in international research collaboration.
But the journey doesn’t end there. The CMSA is already in talks with other countries about sending their astronauts to the space station, promising more updates when plans firm up. For young global citizens and tech enthusiasts, this mission highlights the rising pace of space diplomacy and the opportunities it offers for scientific discovery and cross-border cooperation.
As the world watches, Pakistan’s first selected spacefarers could inspire a new generation of explorers—reminding us that the final frontier is not just for a select few but a platform for global innovation and shared ambitions.
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Pakistani astronaut to join China Space Station as payload specialist
cgtn.com
