ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani astronaut will join a short-term mission aboard the China Space Station in 2026 as a payload specialist, conducting scientific experiments on behalf of Pakistan, according to a statement issued on Friday by the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA). The announcement came as CMSA unveiled its 2026 spaceflight plans, which include two crewed missions and one cargo resupply flight to the orbiting station, according to a Gwadar Pro’s report on Saturday. Astronauts from the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions are also expected to participate in upcoming missions as China expands international cooperation in human spaceflight. DNA
