China has selected two Pakistanis as candidates for its manned space programme, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported on Wednesday. Both will undergo training in China and one will participate in a flight mission as a payload specialist and become the first foreign astronaut in China’s space station, CCTV said.The astronauts were identified as Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud, reported China Daily.&nbsp;The two passed multiple rounds of selection procedures and will soon attend spaceflight training in China.&nbsp;In a statement issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARC) said the astronauts were set to depart for China to “begin advanced astronaut training at the Astronaut Centre of China (ACC)”.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/india-bound-ship-among-two-vessels-attacked-in-strait-of-hormuz-seized-by-iran-s-irgc-1776859709438">India-bound ship among two vessels attacked in Strait of Hormuz, seized by Iran's IRGC</a>&nbsp;The development is a “significant step forward in Pakistan’s space exploration journey that positions the country in the community of a select group of nations actively engaged in human spaceflight programmes,” it added.&nbsp;“During mission aboard the CSS, the Pakistani astronaut will conduct several scientific experiments in microgravity,” the statement said.It added that the experiments span “critical areas including material science, fluid physics, life/bio science, and biotechnology, with potential applications for climate resilience, food security, and industrial innovation”.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-there-will-be-consequences-india-warns-iran-after-attack-on-2-tankers-in-hormuz-1776597009259">‘There will be consequences,’ India warns Iran after attack on 2 tankers in Hormuz</a>&nbsp;In February 2025, the China Manned Space Engineering Office (CMSEO) and the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) had signed a cooperation agreement on the spaceflight of Pakistani astronaut to the Chinese space station.&nbsp;Under the pact, two Pakistanis were to train in China, with one joining a mission on the Tiangong space station operated by Beijing. The mission is planned for launch later this year.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/-put-democracy-in-jeopardy-sc-raps-cm-mamata-banerjee-for-interfering-in-ed-raid-at-i-pac-premises-1776866314032">‘Put democracy in jeopardy’: SC raps CM Mamata Banerjee for interfering in ED raid at I-PAC premises</a>&nbsp;In February this year, two astronauts were shortlisted for Pakistan’s Human Spaceflight Programme by the Astronauts Centre of China. Upon completing all required training and passing assessments, one of them will participate in a spaceflight mission as a payload specialist, becoming the first foreign astronaut to enter China’s space station.&nbsp;China has been barred from participating in the International Space Station since 2011, when the US prohibited NASA from collaborating with Chinese space agencies.

In February 2025, the China Manned Space Engineering Office (CMSEO) and the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) had signed a cooperation agreement on the spaceflight of Pakistani astronaut to the Chinese space station.

China has selected two Pakistanis as candidates for its manned space programme, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported on Wednesday. Both will undergo training in China and one will participate in a flight mission as a payload specialist and become the first foreign astronaut in China’s space station, CCTV said. The astronauts were identified as Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud, reported China Daily. The two passed multiple rounds of selection procedures and will soon attend spaceflight training in China. In a statement issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARC) said the astronauts were set to depart for China to “begin advanced astronaut training at the Astronaut Centre of China (ACC)”. Also Read: India-bound ship among two vessels attacked in Strait of Hormuz, seized by Iran's IRGC The development is a “significant step forward in Pakistan’s space exploration journey that positions the country in the community of a select group of nations actively engaged in human spaceflight programmes,” it added. “During mission aboard the CSS, the Pakistani astronaut will conduct several scientific experiments in microgravity,” the statement said. It added that the experiments span “critical areas including material science, fluid physics, life/bio science, and biotechnology, with potential applications for climate resilience, food security, and industrial innovation”. Also Read: ‘There will be consequences,’ India warns Iran after attack on 2 tankers in Hormuz In February 2025, the China Manned Space Engineering Office (CMSEO) and the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) had signed a cooperation agreement on the spaceflight of Pakistani astronaut to the Chinese space station. Under the pact, two Pakistanis were to train in China, with one joining a mission on the Tiangong space station operated by Beijing. The mission is planned for launch later this year. Also Read: ‘Put democracy in jeopardy’: SC raps CM Mamata Banerjee for interfering in ED raid at I-PAC premises In February this year, two astronauts were shortlisted for Pakistan’s Human Spaceflight Programme by the Astronauts Centre of China. Upon completing all required training and passing assessments, one of them will participate in a spaceflight mission as a payload specialist, becoming the first foreign astronaut to enter China’s space station. China has been barred from participating in the International Space Station since 2011, when the US prohibited NASA from collaborating with Chinese space agencies.

In February 2025, the China Manned Space Engineering Office (CMSEO) and the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) had signed a cooperation agreement on the spaceflight of Pakistani astronaut to the Chinese space station.

2 Pakistani astronauts selected for China’s manned space mission, to undergo training

China's programme to launch a solar power plant in space has been brought forward by two years. The plan is to beam energy back down to Earth, South China Morning Post reported. The concept is to collect solar power in outer space by solar power satellites and then distribute it to the planet Earth. Notably, sunlight is brighter outside the atmosphere.&nbsp;

The plan for the first launch of China's space-based solar power project is now scheduled for 2028. The report added that the testing of technology used to transmit energy from the power plant will be done by a trial satellite orbiting at a distance of around 400km.&nbsp;

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As per the SCMP report, the satellite will "convert solar energy to microwaves or lasers and then direct the energy beams to various targets, including fixed locations on Earth and moving satellites."&nbsp;

China's plans have been detailed in a peer-reviewed paper published in the journal Chinese Space Science and Technology.&nbsp;

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WATCH |&nbsp;Unions on the rise in the United States: Ithaca Starbucks store closed

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Earlier this month, reports emerged that the United Kingdom is apparently planning to build a solar power station in space, Space.com reported, adding that the project will use it to beam energy down to Earth using lasers.&nbsp;

The UK Space Energy Initiative was reportedly joined by over 50 British organisations including manufacturer Airbus, Cambridge University and satellite maker SSTL. US-based space agency NASA had proposed a similar plan but it didn't progress.&nbsp;

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China's programme to launch a solar power plant in space has been brought forward by two years. The plan is to beam energy back down to Earth, South China Morning Post reported.

China's programme to launch a solar power plant in space has been brought forward by two years. The plan is to beam energy back down to Earth, South China Morning Post reported. The concept is to collect solar power in outer space by solar power satellites and then distribute it to the planet Earth. Notably, sunlight is brighter outside the atmosphere. The plan for the first launch of China's space-based solar power project is now scheduled for 2028. The report added that the testing of technology used to transmit energy from the power plant will be done by a trial satellite orbiting at a distance of around 400km. ALSO READ | Time to study universe's rarest galaxies? Hubble Space Telescope captures its largest image ever As per the SCMP report, the satellite will "convert solar energy to microwaves or lasers and then direct the energy beams to various targets, including fixed locations on Earth and moving satellites." China's plans have been detailed in a peer-reviewed paper published in the journal Chinese Space Science and Technology. ALSO READ | Astronomers discover amino acids in asteroid samples during Hayabusa2 probe WATCH | Unions on the rise in the United States: Ithaca Starbucks store closed × Earlier this month, reports emerged that the United Kingdom is apparently planning to build a solar power station in space, Space.com reported, adding that the project will use it to beam energy down to Earth using lasers. The UK Space Energy Initiative was reportedly joined by over 50 British organisations including manufacturer Airbus, Cambridge University and satellite maker SSTL. US-based space agency NASA had proposed a similar plan but it didn't progress. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

China's plans to launch solar power plant in space brought forward by two years: Report

With the launch of its new Long March-5 heavy rocket on Thursday, China moved one step closer to setting up its own space station in Earth orbit nearly a month after it launched its longest space mission, US-based news website Space.com reported.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

According to state news agency Xinhua, Long March-5 heavy rocket is larger than previous versions of China&#39;s Long-March carrier rockets. It blasted off on Thursday night from a pad in the southern province of Hainan.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&quot;Its successful launch has propelled China to the forefront of the world in terms of rocket carrying capacity, and marks a milestone in China`s transition from a major player in space to a major power in space,&quot; Xinhua cited the ruling Communist Party&#39;s Central Committee and powerful Central Military Commission as saying in a letter, Reuters reported.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

As per Space.com, the Long March 5 is one of China&#39;s new generation of rockets, which feature larger carrying capacities, are being pursued during a 12th Five-Year Plan period (2011-2015).&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&quot;With the heavy-lift carrier rocket, China can build a permanent manned space station and explore the moon and Mars,&quot; the Xinhua said.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The two-stage rocket&#39;s ability to put 25 tonnes of payload into low-Earth orbit and 14 tonnes to geostationary transfer orbit gives it a carrying capacity 2.5 times larger than previous models, Xinhua said.

&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from Reuters)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

With this launch, China moved one step closer to setting up its own space station in Earth orbit

With the launch of its new Long March-5 heavy rocket on Thursday, China moved one step closer to setting up its own space station in Earth orbit nearly a month after it launched its longest space mission, US-based news website Space.com reported. According to state news agency Xinhua, Long March-5 heavy rocket is larger than previous versions of China's Long-March carrier rockets. It blasted off on Thursday night from a pad in the southern province of Hainan. "Its successful launch has propelled China to the forefront of the world in terms of rocket carrying capacity, and marks a milestone in China`s transition from a major player in space to a major power in space," Xinhua cited the ruling Communist Party's Central Committee and powerful Central Military Commission as saying in a letter, Reuters reported. As per Space.com, the Long March 5 is one of China's new generation of rockets, which feature larger carrying capacities, are being pursued during a 12th Five-Year Plan period (2011-2015). "With the heavy-lift carrier rocket, China can build a permanent manned space station and explore the moon and Mars," the Xinhua said. The two-stage rocket's ability to put 25 tonnes of payload into low-Earth orbit and 14 tonnes to geostationary transfer orbit gives it a carrying capacity 2.5 times larger than previous models, Xinhua said. (WION with inputs from Reuters)

China launches new heavy rocket