Pakistan's space agency, the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), successfully launched its first indigenous electro-optical satellite, PRSC-EO1, from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in China, according to The Straits Times. The milestone marks an advancement in Pakistan's pursuit of self-reliance and technological excellence.
China played a role in the achievement by sending the satellite into space using its Long March-2D rocket, reports Lokmat. The collaboration underscores the continued partnership between Pakistan and China in the field of space exploration and technology.
Pakistan described the success as a major step towards self-reliance and technological excellence, as noted by Live Hindustan. The PRSC-EO1 satellite uses electro-optical sensors to collect data and images of the Earth's surface by detecting and measuring reflected sunlight or emitted radiation, according to TRT World. This technology will aid Pakistan in monitoring natural resources, managing disasters, and improving urban planning, boosting its capabilities in these areas.
Pakistan's Ambassador to China, Khalil Hashmi, commended the launch team for their accomplishment. "Today marks another milestone in Pakistan's space journey and space collaboration to advance socio-economic development," Hashmi said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. He added, "Thanks to the leadership and professional acumen of SUPARCO, PRSC-EO-1 satellite was successfully launched from Jiuquan in northwestern China today aboard the Long March-2D rocket."
"The launch of the satellite is a moment of pride for the people of this country," said Shahbaz Sharif, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, according to Etilaat Roz. The satellite is equipped with a high-resolution camera that captures images of the Earth and offers multiple applications, according to Etilaat Roz. "The satellite is a historic achievement for Pakistan," stated Zain Bukhari, an expert at SUPARCO, as reported by Etilaat Roz. He added that the satellite is the first that was completely designed and built locally by engineers of SUPARCO, demonstrating the country's capability to achieve self-reliance in space technology.
On the same day, China's Long March-2D carrier rocket also launched two other satellites, Tianlu-1 and Blue Carbon 1, into orbit along with the PRSC-EO1 satellite, The Straits Times reports. This launch contributes to the growing number of earth observation satellites in space, a sector that is among the fastest-growing within the commercial space industry. Currently valued at $5 billion, the earth observation satellite market is predicted by Novaspace to exceed $8 billion by 2033.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.