New Delhi: In 2025, China and Pakistan signed an agreement on the selection and training of astronauts. The selection process is proceeding smoothly. According to the China Manned Space Agency, a Pakistani astronaut will participate in a short-term mission as a payload specialist to the Tiangong Space Station. The Pakistani astronaut will conduct microgravity experiments on board the orbital complex. China is the only country in the world that is currently operating its own space station. Over the course of 2026, China plans to launch two crewed mission and one cargo mission. One astronaut from the Shenzhou-23 crew will conduct a year-long stay in orbit, as part of an experiment.
After completion of the assembly of the Tiangong space station in November 2022, after which it entered the application and development phase. China has successfully completed six crew rotations, four cargo resupply missions and seven spacecraft return missions, along with the first emergency rescue mission in 2025. China is currently in the process of selecting its fourth batch of candidates, including payload specialists from Hong Kong and Macao. China is actively seeking international cooperation and exchanges in human spaceflight, and is working with a number of nations around the world towards lunar exploration, with Russia being a close partner.
Crewed Lunar Landing by 2030
China is aiming to mount a crewed mission to the lunar surface by 2030. The development of various technologies necessary for this mission is proceeding smoothly. The major flight products, including the Long March-10 carrier rocket, the Mengzhou spaceship and the Lanyue lunar lander are all being developed, with a number of key-tests being completed, including a zero-height abort test (pad abort) test for the Mengzhou spaceship, the landing and takeoff test for the Lanyue lander, and a static-fire test and low-altitude demonstration to validate the Long March-10 rocket, as well as the maximum dynamic pressure escape test for the Mengzhou spacecraft.