Latest news
China is currently selecting astronauts from Pakistan, with one expected to take part in a short-duration space mission at an appropriate time, according to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) on Thursday.
Following the signing of a cooperation agreement between China and Pakistan in February this year, the official selection process for Pakistani astronauts has been launched, a spokesperson from CMSA said at a Thursday press conference.
Similar to China’s astronaut selection process, it consists of three stages: preliminary selection, secondary selection, and final selection. The preliminary stage is being carried out in Pakistan, while the secondary and final selections will take place in China, said the spokesperson.
Preparations for the secondary selection phase are already underway, including training programs, teaching materials, training equipment, and logistical support for daily life during the training period.
As planned, after the final selection, two Pakistani astronauts will undergo joint training with their Chinese counterparts. According to the mid-term planning of China’s space station missions and the progress of bilateral cooperation, one Pakistani astronaut will be selected to carry out a short-duration spaceflight as a payload specialist, said the CMSA spokesperson.
During the mission, the astronaut will not only participate in the crew’s routine work but also conduct scientific experiments on behalf of Pakistan, the spokesperson noted.
Global Times