21/07/2018

The two satellites, "Pakistan Remote Sensing Satellite-1" (PRSS-1), a dual-purpose Earth observational and optical satellite, and "Pakistan Technology Evaluation Satellite-1A" (PakTES-1A), a satellite designed to help advance satellite manufacturing capabilities of the country, were propelled into space through the Chinese Long March 2C launch vehicle. This is a great show of support by China as due to a lack of infrastructure in Pakistan, spacecraft projection is nigh impossible and such cooperation was the only way for Pakistan to make their mark in space right now.

The first satellites have been sent into space to help Pakistan in agricultural and natural disaster management. The first of these, PRSS-1 (said to operate in orbit at an altitude of 640 km) has been equipped with high-resolution cameras (optical payloads) which can capture images from space and aid the country by mapping the land and help the classification of agricultural land. Moreover, it will bring several other socio-economic benefits with it, providing information from space that is vital for CPEC. The second satellite, PakTES-1A, was in development for three years and has allowed Pakistani scientists to make use of technology that will enable improvement in future satellite development programmes. This truly is a technological marvel that has been achieved by SUPARCO as the cameras used are among the best camera sensors that have been created by China. This launch shows just how far Pakistani scientists have come and has led to claims that Pakistan could send a man to space by the turn of the decade.

Ultimately, this is a monumental moment for Pakistan as this partnership with China not only serves to provide political advantages but also helps put Pakistan on the select list of countries with their own observational satellites in space, while also providing a huge surge of confidence for Pakistani scientists and engineers for years to come.