ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani astronaut will train at the Chinese space station and will be part of upcoming short-duration spaceflight missions as a payload specialist, the Chinese Manned Space Agency announced on Thursday.
Pakistan’s national space agency signed a cooperation agreement with China in February this year, paving the way for the country’s first astronaut to embark on a mission to the Chinese space station, Tiangong. China said earlier this year it had begun the selection process for the Pakistani astronaut.
“Two Pakistani astronauts will undergo training alongside Chinese astronauts, and one of them will be selected to participate in a short-duration spaceflight mission as a payload specialist,” China Manned Space Agency spokesperson Zhang Jingbo said at a press conference.
Chinese publication Global Times reported the same.
“China is currently selecting astronauts from Pakistan, with one expected to take part in a short-duration space mission at an appropriate time,” Global Times reported.
