Pakistan’s iCube Qamar Satellite Mission Soars to Lunar Orbit

News Desk 

Islamabad: Pakistan’s First Satellite Mission, iCube Qamar, has been successfully launched to the moon on Thursday. 

The satellite took off from China’s Hainan Space Launch Site at 2:27 PM Pakistan time and is expected to reach the lunar orbit in 5 days.

Dr Khurram Khurshid, a member of the core committee of the Institute of Space Technology, shared that the design and development of iCube Qamar was accomplished through collaboration with China and Sparco.

The mission aims to orbit around the moon for 3 to 6 months, capturing various images of the lunar surface. This venture marks Pakistan’s entry into the league of nations with its own satellite imagery of the moon for research purposes.

Syed Samar Abbas, General Manager of IST, emphasized the significance of the mission, stating that it will provide crucial information about the moon’s weather, Earth, and magnetic field. Additionally, Pakistan’s flag is poised to reach the moon’s orbit, adding a historic dimension to the mission.

In 2022, the Chinese National Space Agency, through the Asia Pacific Space Corporation Organization (APSCO), offered member countries the opportunity to reach the lunar orbit for free.

Among the member countries of APSCO, which include Pakistan, Bangladesh, China, Iran, Peru, South Korea, Thailand, and Turkey, Pakistan’s proposed project was the only one accepted out of eight submissions.

This achievement underscores Pakistan’s growing presence in space exploration and its commitment to advancing scientific research on an international scale.