ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s participation in China’s space programme is expanding bilateral cooperation beyond infrastructure and energy into satellite technology, scientific research and human spaceflight, according to officials and analysts.
Two Pakistani astronauts, Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud, have begun training at the China Astronaut Research and Training Center after becoming the first foreign astronauts selected for China’s manned space programme. One of them is expected to join a future mission to the China Space Station as a payload specialist in late 2026, according to the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO).
SUPARCO said the planned mission will include microgravity experiments in material science, fluid physics, biotechnology and life sciences. Analysts say the collaboration could strengthen Pakistan’s capabilities in climate monitoring, disaster management, agriculture and digital connectivity.
The development follows earlier Pakistan-China space cooperation projects, including the ICUBE-Q satellite mission launched through China’s Chang’e-6 lunar probe in May 2024 and the launch of PRSC-EO3 from China’s Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in April 2026.
Ahmad Kamal Janjua, founder and chief executive officer of Cosmic Space Systems, said the partnership reflects a transition from hardware dependence toward knowledge-sharing and institutional development. He said Pakistan’s involvement in lunar and satellite programmes could help local universities, research institutions and private technology firms gain practical experience in advanced space applications.
He described the ICUBE-Q mission as an entry point into deep-space research and said the upcoming astronaut mission could provide Pakistani scientists exposure to microgravity research with industrial and scientific applications. He also said the PRSC-EO3 satellite could improve data support for urban planning, food security, environmental monitoring and disaster response.
Muhammad Umar Farooq, senior research associate at the Pak-China Institute, said Pakistan’s participation in China’s space programme represents a shift from symbolic cooperation to capability-driven collaboration. He said the value of the astronaut programme extends beyond a single mission and includes exposure to crewed mission planning, payload design, astronaut training systems and space medicine.
Farooq said Pakistan-China cooperation is increasingly moving into strategic technology sectors, including satellite systems, remote sensing and digital infrastructure. He noted that space technologies are becoming part of modern economic infrastructure, supporting telecommunications, border management, agriculture and climate resilience.
According to the Space Foundation, the global space economy reached $613 billion in 2024, with commercial activity accounting for 78 percent of the sector. Analysts say Pakistan could benefit from strengthening domestic expertise in satellite data analytics, payload manufacturing, ground-station infrastructure and AI-enabled remote sensing.
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