Pakistan’s space agency, SUPARCO, has signed an agreement with China to send its first astronauts to space. As part of this collaboration, the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) will train and launch Pakistani astronauts.
Pakistani Astronauts to Train in China
Under this agreement, two Pakistani astronauts will undergo training at China’s Astronaut Centre. Notably, one of them will serve as a scientific payload specialist aboard China’s space station. The selection process is expected to be completed by 2026.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed the agreement, calling it “another wonderful gesture” from China to strengthen space cooperation between the two nations.
SUPARCO’s Early Success and Gradual Decline
Initially, Pakistan’s space program showed great promise, thanks to Nobel laureate Prof. Abdus Salam. He established SUPARCO in 1961, and remarkably, Pakistan launched its first rocket, Rahbar-1, in 1962—years before India founded ISRO.
Over the years, SUPARCO managed to launch several projects, including the Badr satellite in 1990 and PRSS-1 in 2018. However, despite these achievements, the agency gradually fell behind in global advancements.
Why Did SUPARCO Fall Behind?
Several factors contributed to SUPARCO’s decline. First and foremost, experts point to Pakistan’s weak scientific education system and lack of research funding. According to scientist Prof. Pervez Hoodbhoy, Pakistan failed to develop a strong foundation in physics and mathematics, unlike India and China.
Furthermore, the country focused more on military technology than space exploration. In the 1970s, then-Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto famously declared, “We will eat grass, even go hungry, but we will get one of our own (atom bomb).” Consequently, the military took control of SUPARCO, sidelining scientists.
Moreover, while India honored Vikram Sarabhai for his contributions to space research, Pakistan failed to support Abdus Salam. Since he belonged to the Ahmadiyya community, his scientific vision was largely ignored. If Pakistan had embraced his ideas, the country’s space program might have taken a different path.
Pakistan’s Growing Dependence on China
As SUPARCO continues to struggle, Pakistan has become increasingly reliant on China for space projects. In recent years, Beijing has launched multiple satellites for Pakistan. For instance, on May 30, 2024, China successfully deployed PakSat MM1, a communication satellite, using its Long March 3B rocket.
Looking ahead, Pakistan aims to develop its own satellite launch technology by 2040. However, without a clear strategy and significant investment in research, the country is likely to remain dependent on China for space advancements.
