In a historic move, the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) has invited scientists, researchers, and students to submit proposals for innovative experiments to be conducted aboard the Chinese Space Station (CSS), as Pakistan prepares to send its first astronaut into space.
This call for proposals aims to maximize the scientific impact of the mission by exploring the unique conditions of microgravity, vacuum, and extreme temperatures aboard the CSS, which orbits the Earth every 92 minutes at an altitude of 380 km.
Suparco highlighted that the selected experiments will benefit from CSS’s advanced research facilities, including modules for life sciences, fluid dynamics, material science, biotechnology, and astrophysics. Proposals in the fields of agriculture and medical sciences are especially encouraged, where microgravity may lead to groundbreaking insights.
To be eligible, experiments must be:
- Novel and cost-effective
- Lightweight and practical in space conditions
- Feasible within a one-week timeframe aboard the CSS
- Aligned with CSS research priorities and the UN Sustainable Development Goals
Pakistan’s astronaut is expected to embark on the CSS mission by late 2026, following completion of astronaut training. The initiative is positioned as a rare opportunity for Pakistan’s scientific and industrial communities to contribute to global space research, potentially resulting in patents, high-impact publications, and space-commercial innovations.
Deadline for submissions: April 30, 2025
More details and submission guidelines: https://sead.pk/Announcement/Detail/5094
Suparco calls this a landmark moment for Pakistan’s space program and urges the nation’s emerging scientists and engineers to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of space exploration.
