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China reports Pakistani astronaut will join Shenzhou-24 station mission

Chinese state media say the astronaut would be the first foreign national on China's station; no name or departure date has been given.

Published Nov 7, 2026 · 11:38 UTC3 reports

The short version

  • Chinese state media report a Pakistani astronaut will join the Shenzhou-24 crew, which would make them the first foreign national to board China's space station.[ABC News]
  • According to the China Manned Space Agency, the astronaut would fly a short on-orbit mission and return aboard Shenzhou-23.[ABC News]
  • Two Pakistani candidates, Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud, began training alongside Chinese counterparts earlier this year; China has not named the astronaut.[Al Jazeera · ABC News]
  • The flight is part of a China-Pakistan agreement signed in February 2025; the mission is expected by year's end, but no departure date has been set.[Al Jazeera · ABC News]

Key facts

  • A Pakistani astronaut is set to join China's Shenzhou-24 crew, which would make them the first foreign national to board China's space station, according to Chinese state media.[Al Jazeera · ABC News]
  • The China Manned Space Agency, as reported by Xinhua, said the astronaut would complete a short on-orbit flight and return aboard Shenzhou-23, with no launch date specified.[ABC News]
  • Two Pakistani candidates, Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud, began training alongside Chinese counterparts earlier this year.[ABC News]
  • The mission stems from an agreement between China and Pakistan signed in February 2025.[Al Jazeera · ABC News]
  • China has not identified the astronaut or given a departure date, but the mission is expected to take place by the end of the year.[Al Jazeera]

What remains uncertain

  • China has not identified the astronaut or set a departure date, so the year-end timing is an expectation rather than a confirmed schedule.[Al Jazeera · ABC News]
  • Reporting describes the selection differently: one account says China has selected an unnamed astronaut, while another describes a planned selection between two candidates.[Al Jazeera · ABC News]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.