The facts
China announced that one Pakistani payload specialist is to join its Shenzhou-24 spaceflight and return with the Shenzhou-23 crew. [1][2]
The announcement describes the flight as the first visit by a foreign astronaut to China’s space station and the first international crewed mission in the program. [1][2]
Xinhua said two Pakistani candidates had been selected, but the specialist’s identity was not announced. [1]
No launch date was announced in the opened reports; the flight is prospective. [1][2]
Still unconfirmed
- The selected specialist’s identity and the mission launch date were not announced.
- Mission timing and operational details remain subject to the space agencies’ future schedule.
Sources
References support the numbered facts above. Source checks: 7 Nov 2026, 05:46 UTC.
The selection is an announced future mission rather than a completed flight; the first-in-program description is attributed to the announcement and AP reporting.
- Pakistan payload specialist to join China’s Shenzhou-24 mission
Xinhua · Primary source · 7 Nov 2026
Opened Xinhua’s report on the official China announcement. It says one Pakistani payload specialist will join Shenzhou-24, return with Shenzhou-23 and that two candidates have been selected.
- China to send Pakistani astronaut to its space station for first time
The Associated Press · Reporting · 7 Nov 2026
Opened AP report independently covering the announcement and describing the first foreign astronaut mission in the Chinese program.