In a groundbreaking development, Pakistan has embarked on its inaugural lunar mission, marking its entry into the global space research competition. This pioneering venture, assisted by China, was launched from the Hainan Space Site in China.
The satellite, christened as ‘iCube Qamar’, is a feather-light marvel weighing approximately 7kg. It’s the brainchild of the Electrical Engineering Department at Islamabad’s Institute of Space Technology (IST), and its development spanned over two years.
The launch was broadcast live across various digital platforms, allowing the world to witness this historic moment. The Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) successfully propelled the first satellite into lunar orbit. The journey of iCube Qamar to reach the lunar orbit is anticipated to take five days.
Upon the successful completion of this mission, Pakistan will etch its name as the sixth nation to reach the moon, as per Dr. Khurram Khurshid, a key member of the space institute’s core committee. Furthermore, iCube Qamar is integrated with China’s Chang’e 6 mission, adding another layer of international collaboration to this venture.
