Today, Pakistan’s first-ever journey to the moon, ICUBE-Qamar, took off successfully into space. This historic event was made possible through a collaboration between the Institute of Space Technology (IST), Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) in China, and Pakistan’s national space agency SUPARCO. ICUBE-Qamar hitched a ride on China’s Chang’E6 spacecraft, launching from Hainan, China.
The launch was shown live on the IST website, marking a significant milestone for Pakistan’s space exploration efforts.
ICUBE-Qamar is a satellite orbiting the moon equipped with two cameras to capture images of the lunar surface. It underwent rigorous testing before being added to the Chang’E6 mission, which is China’s latest venture to explore the moon.
Chang’E6’s main goal is to land on the far side of the moon, collect samples, and bring them back to Earth for scientists to study. In addition to its scientific instruments, this mission also carries Pakistan’s CubeSat satellite, iCube-Q, created by IST. CubeSats are small satellites with standardized designs, commonly used in scientific research, technology development, and educational projects related to space.
These tiny satellites, often weighing just a few kilograms, serve various purposes, including observing Earth, studying the atmosphere, communicating, and testing new technologies.
Pakistan’s involvement in this lunar mission highlights its increasing role in the global space community and its commitment to exploring beyond our planet’s borders.
