Beijing is preparing for the launch of its Shenzhou-20 spaceflight tomorrow, with significant developments in the selection process for Pakistani astronauts. The China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) announced on Wednesday that the selection process for Pakistani astronauts has begun following a cooperation agreement signed between China and Pakistan in late February.
The astronaut selection process, modeled after China’s own procedure, consists of three stages: preliminary selection, secondary selection, and final selection. While the preliminary selection is taking place in Pakistan, the secondary and final stages will be held in China, according to CMSA spokesperson Lin Xiqiang, who shared the update during a press conference at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China.
Two Pakistani astronauts will ultimately be chosen to undergo training in China. One of these astronauts will join a future mission to the China Space Station as a payload specialist. In addition to performing standard crew duties, the astronaut will also oversee scientific experiments on behalf of Pakistan.
This development coincides with China’s preparations for the Shenzhou-20 mission, which is scheduled to launch at 5:17 pm local time tomorrow. The mission will transport three astronauts to the Tiangong space station. The main goal is to complete an in-orbit crew rotation with the Shenzhou-19 crew, who are expected to return to Earth on April 29.
The Shenzhou-20 mission will carry astronauts Chen Dong, Chen Zhongrui, and Wang Jie. This mission marks Chen Dong’s third spaceflight, while the other two astronauts will be flying for the first time. The crew will conduct scientific experiments, install space debris protection devices, and perform extravehicular activities and recovery tasks. They will also carry out three life science experiments using zebrafish, planarians, and streptomyces.
The astronauts are expected to return to Earth in late October, with a resupply mission scheduled via the unmanned Tianzhou-9 cargo spacecraft.
China is also in discussions with other countries about sending astronauts to the China Space Station, and more updates will be provided as those plans progress.
Additionally, the fourth batch of astronauts selected for Shenzhou spaceflights, which includes astronauts from Hong Kong, Macau, and Pakistan, is currently undergoing training. It is expected that Hong Kong and Macau astronauts will embark on their first mission as early as 2026, according to Chinese media reports.
