Pakistani Astronaut to Join China’s Shenzhou-24 Mission: First Foreigner on Tiangong Space Station

Why in the News?

As part of bilateral space cooperation between Beijing and Islamabad, a **Pakistani astronaut** will join China's **Shenzhou-24** spaceflight mission, becoming the **first foreign astronaut** to board China's permanent **Tiangong Space Station**.

Key Features / Major Points:

- Mission Role:

- According to the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA), the Pakistani astronaut will serve as a **Payload Specialist** aboard the space station.

- This marks the first joint spaceflight involving an international astronaut in the history of China's manned space program.

- Candidate Training:

- While the final candidate's name is to be officially announced, Pakistani pilots **Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Dawood** underwent months of rigorous training at the Astronaut Center of China in Beijing.

- Mission Logistics:

- After completing tasks aboard the space station, the astronaut is scheduled to return to Earth aboard the **Shenzhou-23** spacecraft.

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Static GK Facts:

- Tiangong Space Station:

- Operated By: **China National Space Administration (CNSA)** / CMSA.

- Location: Low Earth Orbit (LEO); China's permanently crewed space station.

- Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO):

- Established: **1961** | Headquarters: **Karachi, Pakistan**.

- China National Space Administration (CNSA):

- Formed: **1993** | Headquarters: **Beijing, China**.

One-Liner Quiz (All Competitive Exams):

Q: A citizen of which country will become the first foreign astronaut aboard China's Tiangong Space Station?

A: Pakistan

Q: Under which Chinese spaceflight mission will a Pakistani astronaut travel to the Tiangong Space Station as a payload specialist?

A: Shenzhou-24

Q: What is the name of Pakistan's national space agency?

A: SUPARCO (Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission)

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