China to send Pakistani astronaut as first foreign guest to its space station

China plans to send an astronaut from its all-weather ally Pakistan as the first foreign guest to its space station Tiangong.

China and Pakistan on Friday (February 28, 2025) signed an settlement together with bilateral efforts to choose and practice Pakistani astronauts after which send a few of them to Tiangong, presently orbiting 400 kilometres above the earth, China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) stated in a information launch right here.

The settlement to send the Pakistani astronaut in space was signed by the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) and Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) at a ceremony attended by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad, stories stated.

China has been launching satellites for Pakistan for the previous few years to assist its shut ally.

The Chinese space station, which has been in orbit for almost 4 years, is regarded as a rival to Russia’s worldwide space station Mir, presently in orbit.

China constructed Tiangong after the nation was reportedly excluded from the International Space Station (ISS) over considerations that China’s space programme is manned by its army, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

China’s space station can be seen as a brand new discipline of competitors between China and the U.S.

The two robotic arms of the station, particularly the lengthy one which has the power to seize objects together with satellites from space, drew worldwide considerations.

China has earlier introduced plans for the additional improvement of space programmes, which included launching a manned lunar mission, development of a lunar space station, exploration of liveable planets and extra-terrestrial life to increase its space programme within the subsequent few a long time.

Deputy Director of the Chinese Manned Space Agency Lin Xiqiang informed media right here earlier that China plans to land astronauts on the moon earlier than 2030 whereas the U.S. plans to put its astronauts again on the lunar floor in 2025.