Pakistan’s maiden lunar mission, dubbed ICUBE-Q, was successfully launched today (Friday) aboard China’s Chang’e 6 lunar probe from Hainan, China.
The satellite was developed in collaboration between Pakistan’s Institute of Space Technology (IST), China’s Shanghai University, and Pakistan’s national space agency SUPARCO.
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Despite a delay of over an hour due to weather conditions, the launch was broadcast live on the IST website.
Speaking to the media, a senior official from SUPRCO confirmed the successful launch from China and extended congratulations to the people of Pakistan. He mentioned that the mission is on track to reach its orbit as scheduled, benefiting from favorable weather conditions.
CubeSats, like ICUBE-Q, are primarily aimed at facilitating scientific research, technology development, and educational endeavors in space exploration.
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Alongside ICUBE-Q, Chang’e-6 will carry payloads from France, Italy, and Sweden, while Chang’e-7 will feature payloads from Russia, Switzerland, and Thailand.
Pakistan’s ICUBE-Q orbiter is equipped with two advanced optical cameras, poised to capture captivating images of the lunar surface.
Having successfully integrated with China’s Chang’E6 mission after rigorous testing, ICUBE-Q marks the sixth chapter in China’s ongoing lunar exploration program.
