Pakistan is scheduled to launch its first lunar satellite into orbit on Friday (today). The project, called ICUBE-Q Lunar, would be launched from China’s Hainan Space Launch Site, demonstrating Pakistan and China’s cooperation in the field of scientific research. Pakistan’s Lunar CubeSat, ICUBE-Q, will be traveling with the Chinese Chang’E 6 Mission.
Dr. Khurram Khurshid, a member of the Institute of Space Technology, has been reported to have provided further details on the satellite’s design and construction, emphasizing the collaboration with China and SUPARCO, the national space agency of Pakistan. He declared in a statement that “Pakistan’s inaugural lunar mission will embark from China on Friday, May 3, at precisely 12:50 pm, which is a huge achievement.
ICUBE-Q which is Pakistan’s Lunar CubeSat would be onboard Chinese Chang’E 6 Mission. Dr. Khurram was reported as explaining that QUBE Lunar is equipped with two cameras for capturing high-resolution images of the moon. “Our satellite will orbit the moon, gathering valuable data and imagery for research purposes.”
Additionally, he disclosed China’s audacious intention to send a spacecraft to the moon in order to gather lunar soil, which would mark a major advancement in space travel for humanity. Pakistan was filled with excitement and a sense of pride as the countdown to launch day started.
Pakistanis are excitedly awaiting the momentous occasion when its first satellite will launch into orbit, ushering in a new era in the country’s space exploration endeavors.
The China National Space Agency (CNSA), through the Asia Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO) in 2022, offered member states a unique opportunity to send a student-built payload to the Moon onboard the Chang’e 6 mission. The Institute of Space Technology (IST) Pakistan replied to the call proposing a Lunar CubeSat named “ICUBE-Qamar” (ICUBE-Q for short). Going through a tough evaluation process, the IST’s proposal was selected.
The design and development of ICUBE-Q are a collaborative effort between IST faculty and students, Pakistan’s national space agency SUPARCO, and China’s Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU). The IST provided a track record in CubeSat development, having successfully launched its first CubeSat, ICUBE-1, in 2013.
It is important to note that the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), is an agency of the Government of Pakistan. It is responsible for the national space program. Established in 1961 it aimed to learn the art of rocketry and high-altitude research from the United States. This agency worked to develop the capacity for a national satellite program, eventually launching Pakistan’s first satellite from China in 1990. This agency was also an early participant and competitor in a rocket development program sponsored by the Ministry of Defense of Pakistan. it leads the national satellite program and maintains an orbital operation of its satellites with support facilities throughout the country.
The agency sustained significant criticism within Pakistan for failing to compete with its Indian and Chinese counterparts in terms of capabilities. Both of these countries have satellite launching capabilities.
Earlier federal ministries avoided to fund the space program and engineering education in spite of opportunity available from the USA. Only the Punjab University (PU) earlier was undertaking the research in aeronautics in 1957 and it was after the former Soviet Union launched its first satellite in space, the Sputnik 1.
It was during the development of Apollo program in 1961 when Dr. Abdus Salam utilized the opportunity for Pakistan to start its space program with the funding of USA. The American NASA was embarking the Apollo program in a competition with the then Soviet space program and was needing scientific data in upper atmosphere. The USA therefore, invited India and Pakistan to join the studies and experimentations.
Startingly, experts from the Atomic Energy Commission of Pakistan (PAEC) were directed at the Wallops Flight Facility to learn the rocketry from the USA. A commission to study the upper atmosphere and rocketry was established under Dr. Salam and Ishrat Usmani as its chairman with nuclear engineers from PAEC, Tariq Mustafa and Salim Mehmood as its first members in 1961. This Space Sciences Research Wing of PAEC was the first one in the entire Muslim world to start studies in establishing the space program. And this wing later was named as SPUARC to represent its purpose and mission on 16 September 1961.
(Author: Rana Kashif)