China recently launched a Pakistani satellite from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre in north China’s Shanxi Province, further deepening space cooperation between the two countries.
The satellite, named PRSC-EO3, was lifted off at 8:15 pm (Beijing Time) aboard a Long March-6 carrier rocket and successfully entered its designated orbit, according to China’s state-run Xinhua news agency.
This marks the fourth Pakistani satellite launched by China since last year, following three similar missions in 2025, reflecting the growing scope of their “all-weather” partnership extending into the space sector.
China has been assisting Pakistan with satellite launches for several years, strengthening bilateral ties beyond traditional economic and defence cooperation.
In a related development, two Pakistani nationals selected for astronaut training under China’s space programme arrived in Beijing on April 24.
The China Manned Space Agency said the candidates have joined training at the Astronaut Centre of China alongside Chinese astronauts. Upon completion of training and assessments, one of them is expected to take part in a future mission as a payload specialist, potentially becoming the first foreign astronaut to travel to China’s Tiangong space station, currently in orbit.
