Fri Feb 28 13:00:38 UTC 2025: ## Pakistan to Send Astronaut to China’s Space Station
**Islamabad/Beijing, Feb 28, 2025** – In a landmark agreement, China and Pakistan will collaborate to send a Pakistani astronaut to China’s space station, Tiangong. The agreement, signed Friday by the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) and Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) in Islamabad, marks the first time a foreign national will visit the orbiting station. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif witnessed the signing ceremony.
The collaboration includes the selection and training of Pakistani astronauts for a mission to Tiangong, which has been operational for nearly four years. This partnership builds upon China’s existing support for Pakistan’s space program, including the launch of numerous satellites.
Tiangong, a rival to Russia’s Mir space station, is seen as a point of competition between China and the US, particularly due to its advanced robotic arms capable of manipulating objects in space. China’s ambitious space program also includes plans for a manned lunar mission before 2030, a lunar space station, and exploration of other planets. This latest agreement underscores China’s growing influence in space exploration and its strengthening ties with Pakistan.
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