Pakistan eyes Moon landing by 2035 using Chinese rockets as its economy struggles

Pakistan has set a goal of landing on the Moon by 2035 and plans to send its first astronaut into orbit on 25 November aboard a Chinese spacecraft, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal announced.

Speaking at the conclusion of World Space Week at the University of Narowal in Punjab province, Iqbal confirmed that Islamabad is leaning heavily on Beijing's space architecture to kick-start its human spaceflight programme. Under an agreement signed in February 2025 between Pakistan's Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) and the China Manned Space Agency, the selected Pakistani astronaut will serve as a payload specialist aboard China's Tiangong space station for about a week.

Two Pakistani pilots, Khurram Daud and Muhammad Zeeshan Ali, have undergone training in Beijing, with one set to make the trip. The role is limited to running scientific experiments rather than piloting, and a SUPARCO official noted that the astronaut is expected to communicate in Mandarin while on board. Pakistan possesses no indigenous crewed spacecraft, launch vehicles, or astronaut training facilities of its own.

Contrasting lunar timelines

Islamabad also plans to contribute a domestically built autonomous rover to China's Chang'e-8 mission around 2028, before attempting a lunar landing in 2035.

By contrast, India is executing an independent, sovereign roadmap under Space Vision 2047, driven by domestic research and engineering at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). India's Gaganyaan programme is preparing for uncrewed orbital tests featuring the humanoid robot Vyommitra ahead of crewed orbital flights, followed by the five-module Bharatiya Antariksh Station by 2035 and an Indian crewed lunar landing by 2040.

Debt and technological dependence

Pakistan's space ambitions arrive against severe domestic economic headwinds. Headline inflation in the country stands at 7.1 percent, and poverty is estimated at 28.9 percent, affecting roughly 70 million citizens. The country remains reliant on financial bailouts from the International Monetary Fund to meet sovereign obligations, leaving questions over how long-term deep-space exploration can be sustained.

Islamabad's space efforts have been tied to Beijing since 1990, when China launched the Badr-I satellite. Beijing has since handled communications satellites including Paksat-1R, Paksat MM1 and PRSS-1. Earlier this year, Pakistan sent its ICUBE-Q CubeSat as a secondary passenger on China's Chang'e-6 lunar sample-return flight.

Beyond flight goals, Iqbal announced plans for a space museum at the University of Narowal to encourage scientific education among Pakistani youth. Whether bilateral cooperation can bridge the technical gap remains uncertain, but Islamabad's reliance on Beijing ensures its outer-space roadmap remains tied to Chinese priorities.