Pakistan is gearing up to launch its first satellite mission to the moon, iCube Qamar, today aboard China’s Chang’E6 spacecraft from Hainan, China.
According to Dr. Khurram Khurshid, a member of the Core Committee at the Institute of Space Technology (IST), the satellite is scheduled to depart for its space mission at 2:18 PM Pakistan time.
The launch event will be broadcast live on the IST website starting at 12:50 PM.
Dr. Khurshid explained that Pakistan’s satellite mission will reach lunar orbit within five days and will remain in orbit around the moon for three to six months. During this time, the satellite will capture images of the lunar surface, providing Pakistan with its own satellite images of the moon for research purposes.
Developed in collaboration with China’s Shanghai University and Pakistan’s national space agency SUPARCO, the iCube-Q orbiter carries two optical cameras designed to image the lunar surface. Following successful qualification and testing, the iCube-Q has been integrated into the Chang’e6 mission.
Chang’e6, China’s lunar mission, aims to touch down on the moon’s far side to collect samples from the surface for research upon return to Earth.
For Pakistan, this mission holds significant importance as it will also deploy a CubeSat satellite named iCube-Q, developed by IST. CubeSats are miniature satellites designed for scientific research, technology development, and educational initiatives in space exploration. They are known for their small size, standardized design, and modular components.
Overall, Pakistan’s participation in the Chang’e6 mission represents a milestone in its space exploration endeavors and opens up new opportunities for scientific discovery and technological advancement.
