China Opens Its Space Station to the World, First Foreign Astronaut Expected This Year

Yang Liwei, China's first astronaut and deputy chief designer of the manned space program, said China's space station will become an experimental platform open to the world, speaking during his participation in the 2026 International Astronautical Congress in the Turkish city of Antalya.

The proposed cooperation includes research fields, astronaut training, flight opportunities, and science education, according to reports by "The Paper" and "Sina News". The framework also includes training astronauts from partner nations and providing them with actual flight opportunities aboard the station.

In April 2026, China selected two candidates from Pakistan who are currently training alongside its astronauts, with plans for one of them to fly as a payload specialist on a short-term mission, amid coordination for visits by astronauts from multiple countries.

Yang Liwei also pointed to plans toward a lunar research station and international cooperation in this context. This direction represents a shift in China's space policy, which historically relied on self-reliance.

What Do These Terms Mean?

Space Station: A laboratory orbiting Earth where astronauts reside to conduct experiments in a zero-gravity environment.

Payload Specialist: A flight crew member responsible for managing scientific experiments rather than piloting the spacecraft.

International Astronautical Congress: The largest annual gathering of space sector professionals to share research and form partnerships.

Lunar Research Station: A planned facility on the surface of the Moon aimed at conducting long-term scientific research.