BEIJING: Pakistan has moved a step closer to its potential first human spaceflight mission, with Pakistani pilots Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud undergoing intensive astronaut training in China.
According to a report by Diva Magazine Pakistan, the two pilots are receiving training at the China Astronaut Research and Training Center in Beijing, where they are preparing for the physical and technical challenges associated with spaceflight.
Pakistani Pilots Undergo Specialized Training
The training reportedly includes Mandarin language lessons, centrifuge exercises and simulated microgravity activities designed to prepare the pilots for conditions they could encounter during a space mission.
They are also reportedly practicing routine activities in simulated weightlessness, including eating, sleeping and carrying out equipment-repair tasks.
Such exercises are intended to familiarize trainees with the physical and operational demands of working in a spacecraft or space station environment.
One Pilot Could Be Selected For Future Mission
According to the report, one of the two Pakistani pilots is expected to be selected for a future mission aboard China’s Tiangong Space Station.
If the mission goes ahead and a Pakistani astronaut is selected, it could mark a historic milestone for Pakistan by sending the country’s first citizen into space.
The mission would also represent another development in the growing space cooperation between Pakistan and China.
Pakistan’s Human Spaceflight Ambitions
Pakistan has been working with China on space-related initiatives, while the country’s national space agency, SUPARCO, has been involved in satellite and space technology programs for decades.
The reported astronaut training represents a potential expansion of Pakistan’s participation in human spaceflight activities.
For now, the selection of the final Pakistani astronaut and the timing of any future mission remain subject to the relevant selection and mission processes
