Islamabad (LM) Following the signing of a cooperation agreement between China and Pakistan at the end of February, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) announced on Wednesday that the selection process for Pakistani astronauts is officially underway.
The astronaut selection process mirrors that of China’s own astronauts and is divided into three stages: preliminary selection, secondary selection, and final selection. The preliminary selection is currently being conducted in Pakistan, while the subsequent stages will occur in China.
Ultimately, two Pakistani astronauts will be selected for training in China. According to CMSA, one of the chosen astronauts will participate in a joint spaceflight mission as a payload specialist, responsible for operating scientific experiments on behalf of Pakistan in addition to performing regular crew duties.
This initiative is part of broader plans for international cooperation in space exploration, with China also engaging in discussions with other countries regarding their astronauts’ participation in missions to the China Space Station. Further updates on these collaborations are expected to be released in due course.
The selection of Pakistani astronauts signifies a significant step in enhancing bilateral ties between China and Pakistan, particularly in the field of space exploration, and marks a new chapter in Pakistan’s aspirations in the aerospace sector.
