Photo: Collected
A Pakistani astronaut is set to make history by reaching China’s space station. Two of the country’s military pilots, Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud, are preparing to go into orbit aboard a Chinese-made spacecraft. One of the two will be finally chosen.
They have been training for several months at the China Astronaut Research and Training Center in Beijing. There, besides learning the techniques of sleeping, eating and repairing equipment in weightlessness, the two pilots are undergoing tough physical training and are also mastering the Mandarin language.
Amer Gilani, head of the human spaceflight cooperation division of Pakistan’s space research agency SUPARCO, said the name of the final astronaut may be announced between mid and late October. The two pilots were selected from among 20 candidates, taking into account physical fitness, mental toughness and the ability to withstand the intense G-force during spaceflight.
The person finally selected will serve as a ‘payload specialist’ in space, and his main task will be to conduct Pakistan’s scientific research. Four biotechnology research projects have been finalised from among more than three hundred proposals.
As it has no crewed spacecraft or launch rocket of its own, Pakistan has to depend on China for the entire mission. The Pakistani astronaut will stay in space for about a week.
Meanwhile, there is also a plan to send a Pakistan-made lunar rover on China’s Chang’e-8 lunar mission around 2028.
Source: Reuters
