ISLAMABAD: In a historic achievement for Pakistan, the country’s first satellite mission to the moon, iCube Qamar, has been launched on board China’s Chang’E6 from Hainan, China.
The launch was telecast live on the IST website as well as the Chinese state television.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif felicitated the nation and scientists for launching the first lunar orbit mission.
In a statement, the PM said ICUBE-Q satellite was Pakistan’s first step in space.
The premier said Pakistani scientists, engineers and skilled workers were proving their mettle in this field like the expertise they exhibited in the nuclear technology.
He paid tribute to the core committee of the Institute of Space Technology, including Dr Khurram Khurshid, all the members of the Suparco team and students, who participated in this project.
Congratulating the students and scientists on the launch, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said, “Today’s launch from Hainan in China is a good example of countries and organisations coming together for space cooperation and shared benefits.”
Dr Khurram Khurshid, a member of the Core Committee at the Institute of Space Technology (IST), told Geo News that Pakistan’s satellite will reach the lunar orbit in five days and will circle around the moon for three to six months.
He said different pictures of the surface of the moon will be taken with the help of satellite after which Pakistan will have its own satellite images of the moon for research.
The satellite has been designed and developed by the IST in collaboration with China’s Shanghai University and Suparco.
Chang’6 will touch down on the moon’s far side to collect samples from the surface and return to earth for research.