China selects two Pakistani candidates as its first foreign astronauts: reports, Pg16

Key Highlights:

• China selected Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud of Pakistan as its first foreign astronauts on April 22.
• The astronauts will train in China and one will participate in a mission to Tiangong Space Station as a payload specialist.
• Pakistan is set to be the first country to have a citizen onboard Tiangong as a crew participant.
• The selected astronaut will conduct scientific experiments in microgravity, including materials science and biotechnology.

Detailed Insights:

• China was excluded from the International Space Station (ISS) program, particularly after the 2011 Wolf Amendment in the U.S. prohibited NASA from collaborating with the Chinese space program.
• Tiangong is now extending opportunities to countries historically excluded by Western-led coalitions, with collaborations including scientific projects from multiple countries since 2019.
• The European Space Agency (ESA) had plans to send astronauts to Tiangong, but these plans were cancelled due to budgetary and political reasons.
• China plans to launch the Xuntian space telescope module in late 2026 and expand Tiangong to six modules possibly from 2027, prompting the U.S. to reinforce its commitment to the NASA Artemis program.
• Pakistan launched a remote sensing satellite in orbit in July 2025 from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in China.
• While Pakistan's space program lags behind ISRO's Gaganyaan program, a Pakistani astronaut on Tiangong before an Indian astronaut in orbit would be a notable shift in regional dynamics.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Microgravity: The condition of experiencing very little or no gravitational force.
• Payload Specialist: An astronaut who conducts specific research or experiments during a space mission.
• Wolf Amendment: A U.S. law that restricts NASA from collaborating with the Chinese space program.