Pakistan Sends First Ever Lunar-Mission Rocket Into Space

In a historic moment for the country’s space program, Pakistan on Friday successfully launched its first-ever lunar mission aboard China’s Chang’e 6 spacecraft, Anadolu Agency reported yesterday.

The iCUBE-Q CubeSat, a collaboration between Pakistan’s Institute of Space Technology, China’s Shanghai University, and Pakistan’s national space agency SUPARCO, lifted off from the Wenchang Space Launch Site in China’s Hainan province at around 5:27 pm local time.

“The launch was successful,” confirmed Khalil Hashmi, Pakistan’s top diplomat in Beijing, who stated that the iCUBE-Q orbiter will be “deployed in Moon orbit on 8 May.”

The small satellite carries two optical cameras to image the lunar surface, contributing to scientific research and technology development for space exploration.

Speaking ahead of the launch, Hashmi said, “This is a historic moment for Pakistan as we embark on our first-ever lunar mission.”

The Chang’e 6 mission, China’s latest robotic lunar exploration endeavor, will also carry payloads from several other countries, including the European Space Agency, France, and Italy.

“This international collaboration demonstrates the growing cooperation in space activities among different nations,” said a representative from the China National Space Administration.

The successful launch marks a significant milestone for Pakistan’s space program and its ambitions to contribute to the global exploration of the Moon.