In September 2025, the Chinese space agency CNSA will launch Shenzhou‑24 from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Gansu province, carrying Pakistani astronaut Shah Faheem Salam aboard the Tiangong space station. Salam, 43, will be the first foreign commander to live and work on China’s orbital platform, a milestone that signals a new level of cooperation between Pakistan and China and expands the international footprint of the Tiangong program.
Shah Faheem Salam’s selection followed years of intensive training in China’s astronaut program. The 6‑foot‑2 Pakistani pilot logged more than 3,000 hours of simulated and actual flight operations—including high‑altitude balloon ascents that emulate the vacuum and micro‑gravity conditions of space. The training culminated with rigorous ground‑simulator sessions and physical conditioning designed to meet CNSA’s standards for human‑spaceflight endurance.
During a press briefing in Islamabad, Salam expressed enthusiasm for the mission.
"I am proud to represent my country on a world stage and to work alongside Chinese engineers and astronauts,"he told reporters.
"This mission signals a step forward for Pakistan’s aerospace ambitions and strengthens our bilateral collaboration."
Chinese officials described the partnership as a continuation of the nation’s “human‑spaceflight cooperation” policy, a strategy aimed at expanding diplomatic and technological ties via shared orbital missions. The Shenzhou‑24 crew will operate a new experimental module that will dock with Tiangong for a 30‑day orbital stay, allowing a series of life‑support testing, robotic arm demonstrations, and micro‑gravity materials research.
The mission’s technical focus centers on verifying the performance of life‑support systems under long‑duration conditions, a critical element for future deep‑space ventures. Engineers will also assay the accuracy of robotic arm maneuvering, which is essential for the installation and maintenance of station modules and payloads. These capabilities will form a foundation for subsequent joint research projects proposed by the Pakistani Space Agency.
Pakistani Space Agency (PSA) officials announced that the astronaut’s training would continue in the high‑altitude balloon program and that Salam would conduct experiments in micro‑gravity labs aboard Tiangong. The PSA emphasized that these activities are intended to give Pakistan experience in orbital science and to create pathways for future Pakistani technological contributions.
Dr. Amir Sharif, a space‑policy analyst at the University of Karachi, viewed Salam’s arrival as a “symbolic and practical step.” He remarked,
"This offers Pakistan a stake in space‑based research and paves the way for future joint missions."
Sharif added that the flight could accelerate technology transfers regarding launch systems and orbital infrastructure, thereby enriching Pakistan’s indigenous aerospace capabilities.The Shenzhou‑24 launch timetable is set for September 2025, aligning with a broader agenda that includes expanding China’s international partner program. Historically dominated by the United States, Russia, and European entities, the International Space Station’s alliance model is increasingly being mirrored under China’s platform, with the inclusion of foreign astronauts being a pivotal indicator of its outreach policy.
South Korea and India have already expressed interest in similar collaborations with China’s orbital program. Salam’s mission may serve as a precedent, demonstrating feasibility and fostering cross‑border integration in space exploration endeavors across Asia.
By incorporating a foreign astronaut, the Shenzhou‑24 mission could create a new channel for scientific cooperation, especially in micro‑gravity science and advanced life‑support research. The data collected will inform both Pakistani scientists and international partners on how to refine life‑support hardware and robotic manipulator technologies for extended human presence in orbit.
In essence, Shah Faheem Salam’s journey to the Tiangong station not only showcases a technical feat—training, coordination, and actual flight—but also represents a strategic dissemination of space knowledge across borders. The mission may set a precedent for future multinational collaborations on Chinese orbital platforms, broadening the scope of global space‑science research and technological sharing.