In a groundbreaking development, a Pakistani satellite will make history by orbiting the moon as part of China’s Chang’e-6 lunar mission, launched from Hainan, China, on Friday.
The mission, aimed at exploring the moon’s elusive “dark side,” will feature lunar research payloads from various countries, including Pakistan’s iCube Qamar satellite.
Developed by the Institute of Space Technology (IST) in collaboration with China’s Shanghai University (SJTU) and Pakistan’s national space agency Suparco, the iCube-Q module will be on board Chang’e-6.
Named after the mythical Chinese moon goddess, Chang’e-6 is set to collect approximately two kilograms of lunar samples from the far side of the moon and return them to Earth for analysis. This endeavor marks the first of its kind in human lunar exploration history, according to Chinese state news agency Xinhua.
China’s ambitious space program aims to land a robotic spacecraft in the South Pole-Aitken Basin, one of the largest known impact craters in the solar system, to gather lunar soil and rocks for experimentation.
The mission underscores China’s “space dream,” propelled by President Xi Jinping’s vision, which has seen significant investments in space exploration projects over the past decade.
Reacting to the milestone, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated the nation on Pakistan’s inaugural lunar mission. President Zardari hailed the successful launch as a “milestone” for Pakistan’s space endeavors, while Prime Minister Shehbaz lauded Pakistani scientists for their expertise and dedication.
PM Shehbaz emphasized the significance of Pakistan-China friendship, noting its extension into space exploration. He expressed confidence that Pakistan’s foray into space would usher in new opportunities for scientific research, economic development, and national security.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also extended congratulations, highlighting the importance of international cooperation in space endeavors.
The successful integration of Pakistan’s mission into the Chang’e-6 lunar mission represents a pivotal moment in the nation’s pursuit of excellence in space exploration and technology.
