Pakistan’s space community reached a milestone in July 2025 when  Ayesha Habib, a young student from Mandi Bahauddin in Punjab, was selected for the International Space University’s Space Studies Program (SSP) 2025. The two-month program (30 June–22 Aug 2025) will be held at Hanyang University’s ERICA Campus in South Korea. News reports confirm that Habib is the first Pakistani ever chosen for this prestigious global space education initiative.

Space Studies Program Overview

The Space Studies Program (SSP), sometimes described as a “global space program,” is an intensive, annual education course offered by the International Space University (ISU). It spans roughly two months each summer (June–August) at rotating host institutions around the world. SSP provides a broad curriculum across all space-related disciplines (space engineering, satellite technology, space science, policy, law, business, etc.). Participants include students and professionals from many countries, working in interdisciplinary teams on projects that address real-world challenges in the space sector. For example, the 2023 SSP cohort included 85 participants from 30 countries (including the program’s first-ever student from Uganda). In SSP25, a similarly diverse international class will work together through expert-led lectures, workshops and team projects.

Key features of the Space Studies Program include:

• Annual global course: Hosted by ISU, SSP is an intensive two-month program (June–August) held at different locations worldwide. The 2025 session will take place at Hanyang University, South Korea.
  
• Diverse international cohort: SSP typically attracts participants from dozens of countries. For example, SSP2023 had attendees from 30 nations, reflecting ISU’s international scope.
  
• Interdisciplinary curriculum: The program’s coursework covers a wide range of space fields, from space science and satellite technology to space law, policy, and business.
  
• Team projects: Participants collaborate on multidisciplinary projects addressing current and future space-sector challenges.

This program is designed to give participants a “gateway to space” through collaborative learning and networking. Graduates often move into careers with space agencies, research institutes, or industry. By bringing together students and professionals globally, SSP aims to build expertise and international cooperation in space science and technology.

Ayesha Habib’s Historic Selection

Ayesha Habib’s selection for SSP 2025 is historic for Pakistan. A local media report notes that Habib, from Mandi Bahauddin, “has been chosen for the Space Studies Program 2025” in South Korea. BOL News and other outlets emphasize that this makes her “the first Pakistani to be selected for the Space Studies Program”. In summary, the key facts about her achievement are:

• Hometown: Mandi Bahauddin, Punjab, Pakistan.
  
• Program: Selected for the International Space University’s Space Studies Program 2025, held at Hanyang University (South Korea).
  
• First Pakistani: Her inclusion in SSP 2025 makes her the first Pakistani ever chosen for this program.
  
• Program dates: SSP 2025 runs from 30 June to 22 August 2025.
  

Her selection was announced in early July 2025, just weeks before the program’s start. Media sources describe the Space Studies Program as a prestigious international course, and note that Habib’s success is a “proud milestone” for Pakistan.

Regional and International Context

Habib’s achievement adds to a wider story of South Asia’s engagement in space. In June 2025, India prepared to send its first astronaut to the International Space Station, marking a new chapter for the region. Pakistan itself has recently expanded its international space cooperation: in April 2025, Pakistan signed an agreement with China to select and train its first astronaut for missions to China’s Tiangong space station. Meanwhile, the ISU program has been expanding its diversity—for example, SSP2023 included participants from more than 30 countries, with new first-time participants from nations like Uganda. Against this backdrop, Ayesha Habib’s role as Pakistan’s first SSP participant highlights how Pakistan is becoming part of these global space initiatives.

Pakistan’s Space Program and Collaboration

Pakistan has a long-standing national space program. Its space agency, SUPARCO (Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission), was established in 1961. This made Pakistan the first country in South Asia to launch an official space program. Over the decades, Pakistan has developed communications and remote-sensing satellites and space research efforts. In recent years, Pakistan has also pursued global partnerships: for example, the 2025 cooperation agreement with China will allow a Pakistani astronaut to be trained for missions to China’s space station. Ayesha Habib’s participation in the ISU program can be seen as part of this broader trend of engaging with international space education and exploration efforts. It reflects a growing emphasis on building human capacity and expertise in space science within Pakistan’s scientific community.

Conclusion

Ayesha Habib’s selection for the 2025 Space Studies Program is a factual and symbolic milestone for Pakistan. As the first Pakistani to join this global space education forum, her achievement underscores Pakistan’s expanding presence in the international space sector. Over the coming months, Habib will study alongside peers and experts from around the world, and she is expected to return to Pakistan with new knowledge and connections that could inform the country’s space activities. Her participation in SSP 2025 adds to Pakistan’s historical space efforts, linking the nation’s past achievements with its future in space science.

Sources: Verified media reports and ISU program information.