China’s crewed space agency confirmed on November 7, 2026, that a Pakistani astronaut would join the Shenzhou-24 mission as a payload specialist. The planned flight would bring the first foreign visitor to China’s Tiangong space station, according to Xinhua’s announcement coverage.
The astronaut is scheduled to travel to the station aboard Shenzhou-24, remain for a short visit, and return aboard Shenzhou-23. The outbound and return assignments place the visit within an overlap between spacecraft at the station.
A payload specialist’s role centers on designated mission activities and experiments. The arrangement gives the visiting astronaut an assigned operational role during the orbital stay.
The mission follows a cooperation agreement signed in February 2025. Associated Press reporting described the planned participation as a development in China and Pakistan’s space cooperation.
Tiangong provides the destination and orbital working environment for the visit. Shenzhou spacecraft transport crews between Earth and the station and remain available for their assigned return missions.
The confirmed plan identifies the visiting astronaut’s national affiliation, role, outbound spacecraft, and return spacecraft. The announced sequence calls for a short stay rather than a full station crew rotation.
