Pakistan shortlists two astronaut candidates for training, eyeing Chinese space station mission

Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) has successfully completed the secondary phase of astronaut selection for the country’s Human Spaceflight Programme, officials said.

Following initial screening in Pakistan, two candidates have been shortlisted after undergoing extensive medical, psychological, and aptitude evaluations at the Astronauts Centre of China (ACC), conducted in line with international human spaceflight standards.

The selected candidates will now undergo six months of advanced astronaut training at ACC. Upon completion, one individual will be chosen for a spaceflight mission aboard the Chinese Space Station (CSS) scheduled for October–November 2026.

This initiative is part of the bilateral “Astronaut Cooperation Agreement” signed in February 2025. Suparco noted that the Prime Minister’s vision and support were key to enabling Pakistan’s participation in human spaceflight.