Pakistan will send its first astronaut to space under a recently signed agreement between the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) and the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA), said Director Suparco Dr Muhammad Farooqon Friday.

Speaking on Geo News’ programme “Geo Pakistan”, he said the agreement was finalised at the Prime Minister’s House and that the Pakistani astronaut would travel to the China Space Station (CSS), the first foreign astronaut to do so.

Discussions on how to execute the initiative had been ongoing for some time, he said, adding: “Our first Pakistani astronaut will be sent to the China Space Station.”

Dr Farooq said the selection procedure has now begun and will be finalised during 2025. Initially, primary selection will be conducted based on received nominations, followed by secondary evaluation, and finally two astronauts will be selected.

The selected individuals will undergo comprehensive training in 2026, aligned with standard international astronaut training practices. They will travel to China’s astronaut training centre and undergo one year of preparation.

Dr Farooq said the environment on the space station is completely different due to microgravity, and the body must adjust to new physical conditions. Strict protocols regarding food intake and daily routines require significant adjustment, and the training will cover all domains necessary for acclimatisation before a one-week stay on the space station.

Dr Farooq said the contract with China marks a significant moment. “Until now, only Chinese astronauts have travelled to the China Space Station. This is the first time a foreign astronaut has had this opportunity,” he said. “This shows the depth of the Pakistan-China friendship and the openness of the Chinese authorities to accommodate our participation.”

According to Dr Farooq, astronauts are generally selected from experienced pilots or scientists. Eligible candidates will include Suparco scientists or experienced Pakistani pilots. The age criteria are between 30 and 45 years, and candidates must meet specific height and weight requirements, have normal vision (no colour blindness), and must be male for this mission.

Educational qualifications may range from diploma holders and undergraduates to PhD holders. Physical fitness and mental focus will be prioritised. Internal selection will be made from among Suparco scientists and experienced pilots.

Dr Farooq said another important aspect of the mission involves scientific experiments to be conducted on the space station. Suparco plans to open the opportunity to the public, including students and members of the general public, to propose experiments in a microgravity environment.

He said these proposals will be advertised and considered for implementation during the mission.

According to an official statement issued in February, Suparco and CMSA signed a cooperation agreement under which two Pakistani astronauts will undergo training at the Astronaut Center of China.

One selected astronaut shall be trained as a scientific payload specialist, preparing for specialised research aboard the China Space Station.

The astronaut selection process will be completed by 2026, with the aim of flying in an upcoming mission as per CSS planning.

The mission will involve scientific experiments in biological and medical sciences, aerospace, applied physics, fluid mechanics, space radiation, ecology, material sciences, microgravity studies, and astronomy.

The statement said the CSS is equipped with experimental racks and external adaptors for multi-domain research in these fields. Findings from the experiments are expected to contribute to medical research, environmental monitoring, and space technology.