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Sunday, November 8, 2026 · UTC
Launches & Rockets

Pakistan schedules first astronaut launch to Tiangong for Nov 25, joins Chang'e-8 rover work

Announcements 18 October also set a 2035 target for a Pakistani lunar landing with Chinese support.

Luisa Marconi
Senior Space Correspondent
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Pakistan prepares for first astronaut launch to China's space station
Pakistan prepares for first astronaut launch to China's space station AI illustrationhow this picture was made
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, Oct 18, 2026 - Pakistan will launch its first astronaut to China’s Tiangong space station on 25 November. [1] The country will also collaborate on an AI-enabled lunar rover for China’s Chang’e-8 mission, expected to fly in 2028. [2] Pakistan operates no independent crewed launch capability, and is fully dependent on China for the upcoming astronaut mission. [3] Officials have additionally set a target for Pakistan to conduct its own lunar landing by 2035, with support from the same bilateral cooperation. [4] Space Nugget. Tiangong is China's space station in low Earth orbit. Countries without their own crewed rockets fly astronauts through partnerships with nations that have them.
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  1. Ahsan Iqbal announced Pakistan's first astronaut will launch to China's Tiangong space station from China on November 25. · The Times Of IndiaIndia
  2. Pakistan is collaborating with China on an AI-enabled lunar rover for China's Chang'e-8 mission expected in 2028. · The Times Of IndiaIndia
  3. Pakistan does not operate independent crewed launch capability, and is fully dependent on China for the upcoming astronaut mission. · The Times Of IndiaIndia
  4. Ahsan Iqbal announced Pakistan is targeting a lunar landing mission by 2035, with support from cooperation with China. · Dawn
The one we could place publishes from India. 1 could not be placed by their address. None is an official body: that part stands on reporting, not on the underlying document or transcript.