--- title: "Two Pakistani pilots train for China's Tiangong space station mission" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/tech/two-pakistani-pilots-train-for-chinas-tiangong-space-station-mission" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/two-pakistani-pilots-train-for-chinas-tiangong-space-station-mission" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/tech/two-pakistani-pilots-train-for-chinas-tiangong-space-station-mission.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/two-pakistani-pilots-train-for-chinas-tiangong-space-station-mission" category: "Science & Tech" area: "China" published: "2026-09-28T07:25:31.107Z" source_reported: "2026-09-28T06:43:54.000Z" updated: "2026-09-28T07:25:31.107Z" trust_score: 76 critic_score: 95 hype_score: 15 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-09-28T07:15:18.436279+00:00" --- # Two Pakistani pilots train for China's Tiangong space station mission *A final selection is expected in October 2026 for a week-long stay on the orbiting laboratory.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 76 of 100, higher is better. Trust 76: multiple named officials and specific figures from The Hindu plus corroborating digests across the spectrum. - Craft 95 of 100, higher is better. Critic 95: provides context, quotes officials, separates facts, includes dates, figures, and next steps clearly. - Hype 15 of 100, lower is better. Hype 15: language is measured with no clickbait or exaggerated claims. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Two Pakistani pilots, Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud, are training at China’s Astronaut Research and Training Center in Beijing. - A final decision on which pilot will become Pakistan's first astronaut on China's Tiangong space station is expected in mid-to-late October 2026. - The mission will involve a week-long stay on the 77-metric-tonne Tiangong space station, which has 14 experiment racks. - The training is part of a broader cooperation between Pakistan and China that began in 2019. Two Pakistani pilots, Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud, are training at China’s Astronaut Research and Training Center in Beijing for a mission to the Tiangong space station. The mission, conceived in 2019, is expected to involve a week-long stay on the orbiting laboratory. A final selection of the astronaut is anticipated in mid-to-late October 2026. The training includes memorising Mandarin, centrifuge drills, and learning to manage life in weightlessness. The chosen astronaut will serve as a payload specialist, responsible for running Pakistan’s science experiments. The Tiangong space station comprises three modules weighing approximately 77 metric tonnes and contains about 14 experiment racks. ## Disagreement on mission timeline While the selection is expected in mid-to-late October 2026, the specific launch date for the mission is not provided in the reports. The Hindu states the astronaut will not return to Pakistan before launch, setting off into space directly from training in China and returning home after recovery. ## What the coverage left out None of the reports mention a cost estimate for the mission. The digests from the right-rated outlets did not include details about the specific scientific experiments planned or the broader context of Pakistan-China cooperation beyond the immediate space mission. ## Who covered it Shares of the 7 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 14% (1) - Centre: 29% (2) - Right: 57% (4) 6 of 13 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-09-28T07:15:18.436279+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 3 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-09-28T08:00:21.355Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The Hindu, the sole left-rated report, detailed the broader cooperation between Pakistan and China, noting it straddles the Belt and Road Initiative and has produced Chinese-launched Pakistani satellites, a joint satellite-navigation system, and a Pakistani-built rover for a future lunar mission. It quoted SUPARCO officials on the rationale for selecting pilots due to their experience with high-level g-forces and explained the role of a payload specialist. The report also provided details on the scientific payload and the station's modules and experiment racks. ### Centre - Reuters and WTVB, the centre-rated reports, focused on the immediate training activities of the two pilots, including memorising Mandarin and centrifuge drills. Both digests noted that a decision was nearing on which pilot would become the first foreign astronaut aboard China’s Tiangong space station. The reports highlighted that the voyage would be a first for the South Asian nation. ### Right - CNBC-TV18, Arab News, Geo News, and Pakistan Live News, the right-rated reports, highlighted that the astronaut would fly aboard a Chinese-built spacecraft, launched from a Chinese site, and trained by Chinese instructors, communicating in Mandarin in orbit. These reports also mentioned the week-long duration of the mission on the Tiangong station and that it would be the first foreign astronaut on board the Chinese facility. **Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - low: 1 - mixed: 1 - high: 3 - unknown: 6 - veryHigh: 2 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [The Hindu](https://thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/chinas-space-diplomacy-brings-pakistani-astronauts-closer-to-orbit/article71518664.ece) — China’s space diplomacy brings Pakistani astronauts closer to orbit - [TechJuice](https://techjuice.pk/pakistan-first-astronaut-tiangong-suparco-mission) — Pakistan's First Astronaut Selection To End As China Mission Nears - [The Nation](https://nation.com.pk/28-Sep-2026/pakistan-set-send-first-astronaut-china-s-tiangong-space-station) — Pakistan set to send first astronaut to China’s Tiangong space station - [Independent Urdu](https://independenturdu.com/node/187975) — Two Pakistani Pilots Trained in China to Go Into Space - [dailythedestination.com](https://dailythedestination.com/pakistan-first-astronaut-nears-liftoff-as-china-picks-final-pilot) — Pakistan First Astronaut Nears Liftoff as China Picks Final Pilot - THE DESTINATION - [Technology in Business](https://technology-in-business.net/pakistan-to-send-its-first-astronaut-to-chinas-space-station) — Pakistan to send its first astronaut to China's space station - [The Frontier Post](https://thefrontierpost.com/chinas-space-diplomacy-lifts-pakistani-astronaut-toward-orbit) — China’s space diplomacy lifts Pakistani astronaut toward orbit - [CNBC-TV18](https://cnbctv18.com/technology/chinas-space-diplomacy-lifts-pakistani-astronaut-toward-orbit-19999626.htm) — China's space diplomacy lifts Pakistani astronaut toward orbit - [Arab News](https://arabnews.com/world/chinas-space-diplomacy-lifts-pakistani-astronaut-toward-orbit-3003481) — China’s space diplomacy lifts Pakistani astronaut toward orbit - [Geo News](https://geo.tv/latest/683986-pakistans-space-dream-nears-liftoff-as-china-prepares-to-choose-first-astronaut) — Pakistan's space dream nears liftoff as China prepares to choose first astronaut - [Pakistan Live News](https://pakistanlivenews.com/pakistans-space-dream-nears-liftoff-as-china-prepares-to-choose-first-astronaut) — Pakistan's Space Dream Nears Liftoff As China Prepares To Choose First Astronaut - [Reuters](https://reuters.com/science/chinas-space-diplomacy-lifts-pakistani-astronaut-toward-orbit-2026-09-28) — China's space diplomacy lifts Pakistani astronaut toward orbit - [WTVB](https://wtvbam.com/2026/09/27/chinas-space-diplomacy-lifts-pakistani-astronaut-toward-orbit) — China’s space diplomacy lifts Pakistani astronaut toward orbit ## Questions **Who are the Pakistani pilots training for the space mission?** The two Pakistani pilots undergoing training are Muhammad Zeeshan Ali and Khurram Daud. They are training at China’s Astronaut Research and Training Center in Beijing for a potential mission to the Tiangong space station. **When will the final astronaut be selected?** The final selection of the Pakistani astronaut for the mission is expected in mid-to-late October 2026. This decision will determine which of the two pilots will travel to China's Tiangong space station. **What will the mission involve?** The mission is planned to involve a week-long stay on China's Tiangong space station. The selected astronaut will serve as a payload specialist, conducting Pakistan's science experiments while in orbit. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/tech/two-pakistani-pilots-train-for-chinas-tiangong-space-station-mission. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Two Pakistani pilots train for China's Tiangong space station mission", https://mediabias.news/tech/two-pakistani-pilots-train-for-chinas-tiangong-space-station-mission