Pakistan Space Related News & Discussions

[Pakistan Space Agency]

Pakistan successfully launches Remote Sensing Satellite

• Satellite to significantly contribute to urban planning, agriculture, disaster management

BR Web Desk
Published July 31, 2025

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

Pakistan successfully launches Remote Sensing Satellite

In a historic leap towards technological self-reliance, Pakistan on Thursday successfully launched its Remote Sensing Satellite from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center (XSLC) in China.

The launch marks a major milestone in the country’s space journey and strengthens its position in Earth observation capabilities.

The project is the result of a strategic collaboration between the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC), and MICROSAT China, said a news release issued by SUPARCO.

Equipped with advanced imaging technology, the Remote Sensing Satellite will significantly contribute to urban planning, precision agriculture, disaster management, environmental protection, and food security.

Pakistan to launch new remote-sensing satellite from China

The SUPARCO spokesperson said the satellite is expected to aid in tracking deforestation, glacier recession, and climate change, while also enhancing management of water resources and agricultural land.

“The satellite will also play a crucial role in infrastructure monitoring, mapping transportation networks, and supporting regional planning efforts, particularly in connection with national development projects like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). It is designed to help identify geohazard risks and provide timely warnings for natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, and landslides,” he added.

On this occasion, Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal congratulated the nation on the successful launch of the Remote Sensing Satellite.

He extended warm felicitations to the entire team at SUPARCO, including its engineers and scientists, for achieving this remarkable feat.

“We are deeply grateful to China for its unwavering support and cooperation in this project,” said Iqbal.

He confirmed that the satellite has successfully entered its designated orbit and will soon begin delivering critical data for national use.

“We are committed to restoring Pakistan’s leadership in space technology. With China’s help, we plan to send a Pakistani astronaut into space next year. By 2035, we will also successfully complete our lunar mission and land on the moon,” the planning and development minister said.

SUPARCO Chairman Mohammad Yousaf Khan emphasised that the launch lays the foundation for a robust and integrated Earth Observation System.

He said the new satellite will serve national priorities and contribute meaningfully to Pakistan’s sustainable socio-economic development.

The satellite’s advanced data acquisition capabilities under varied environmental conditions make it an important tool for environmental monitoring and resource management.

Pakistan has made notable progress in its space research efforts in recent months.

Earlier this year, China launched Pakistan’s indigenously developed Electro-Optical satellite EO-1 from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, aimed at disaster prediction and resource management, Business Recorder reported on Monday.

In November last year, SUPARCO revealed plans to send its lunar rover as part of China’s Chang’E 8 mission slated for 2028.

Moreover, in May 2024, Pakistan launched its first lunar satellite aboard China’s Chang’E-6 probe, targeting the moon’s far side — a feat China pioneered.

Pakistan successfully launches Remote Sensing Satellite

- Satellite to significantly contribute to urban planning, agriculture, disaster management

www.brecorder.com

 

[Pakistan Space Agency]

List of Pakistani Satellites

Date	Satellite	Type	Gov.	Comment
10/01/1989	Unknown	Experimental / Military	PPP	Secret 'payload" sent to space from Pakistani launch pad
09/12/1990	BADR-1	Experimental	PML-N	-
10/12/2001	BADR-B	Experimental	Military	-
06/07/2002	PAKSAT-1	Communications	Military	Leased (formerly Anatolia 1)
11/08/2007	PAKSAT-1R	Communications	Military	First Pakistani owned/built Pakistani communications satellite
21/11/2013	iCUBE-1	Cube Satellite	PML-N	First Pakistani cube satellite
22/03/2018	PAKSAT-MMI	Communications	PML-N	Acquired (formerly AsiaSat 4)
09/07/2018	PRSS-1	Remote Sensing	Caretaker	-
09/07/2018	PakTES-1A	Experimental Remote Sensing	Caretaker	-
03/05/2024	ICUBE-Qamar	Cube Satellite / Lunar Orbiter	PML-N	First Pakistani Lunar Orbiter
30/05/2024	PakSat-MM1	Communications	PML-N	-
14/01/2025	PAUSAT-1	Cube Satellite	PML-N	-
17/01/2025	PRSC-EO1	Imaging	PML-N	-
31/07/2025	PRSC-S1	Imaging	PML-N	-

 

[ghazi52]

Pakistan successfully launches remote sensing satellite: foreign ministry​

Dawn.com | APP | Nadir Guramani
July 31, 2025

Pakistan successfully launched a remote sensing satellite from a launch centre in China on Thursday that aims to strengthen Pakistan’s agricultural monitoring and disaster management, among other capabilities, according to a Foreign Office statement.

Pakistan has held strong bilateral relations with China which has supported it through many investments and development projects such as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), termed as a “lifeline” for the country’s economy.

“In a major milestone for space exploration and technological progress, Pakistan today successfully launched its Remote Sensing Satellite from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre (XSLC) in China,” a statement by the foreign ministry said.

The satellite was launched by Pakistan’s national space agency, the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco), in collaboration with the China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC) and Microsat China, according to the ministry.

According to the statement, the satellite “will provide high-resolution, round-the-clock imaging, significantly strengthening Pakistan’s capabilities in urban planning, infrastructure development, disaster management and mitigation, agricultural monitoring, food security, environmental protection, deforestation tracking, climate change analysis, and water resource management”.

The ministry said that the satellite represented a “cornerstone of an integrated Earth observation system”.

“With this latest success, Pakistan reaffirms its position among the community of space-faring nations, leveraging innovation to pursue a more secure, sustainable, and prosperous future,” it added.

Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar commended the dedication of the engineers, scientists, and technical teams from Suparco, CETC and Microsat China for their “exemplary cooperation and unwavering commitment to the mission”.

Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal also congratulated the nation and the Suparco team on the successful launch of the satellite.

“We are deeply grateful to China for its unwavering support and cooperation in this project,” he said.

He confirmed that the satellite had successfully entered its designated orbit and would soon begin delivering data.

“We are committed to restoring Pakistan’s leadership in space technology,” Iqbal added. “With China’s help, we plan to send a Pakistani astronaut into space next year. By 2035, we will also successfully complete our lunar mission and land on the moon.”

In a post on X, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated Suparco on the successful launch and thanked Chinese partners for their contributions to the project.

“This achievement showcases the soaring heights of Pakistan-China cooperation, extending beyond borders and into outer space, driven by a shared vision to harness space technology for the betterment of humanity,” the PM wrote.

“The satellite will have wide-ranging benefits for CPEC as well as applications for use in agriculture, urban planning, disaster management, mapping of transportation networks and data acquisition in different environments.”

 

[ghazi52]

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[Pakistan Space Agency]

@Waz @Musings

Brothers, could one of you merge the other thread with this one please:

Thread 'Pakistan Space Related News & Discussion'

May 8, 2024

Pakistan's ICUBE-Q satellite successfully enters lunar orbit
First images from moon expected by May 15 or 16

May 08, 2024

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's satellite ICUBE-Q was successfully launched into the lunar orbit on Wednesday after reaching the detach point via China's Chang'e-6 probe.

The satellite will now commence testing while in the lunar orbit. The Institute of Space Technology (IST) will conduct various tests over the next five to six days...

• Pakistan Space Agency
• Replies: 376
• Forum: Strategic & Foreign Affairs

• 

Please could you also update this thread's title to as follows:
Pakistan Space Related News & Discussions

 

[Pakistan Ka Beta]

Significant Step Forward | Pakistan Launches Remote Sensing Satellite on 31st July 2025​

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

Remote Sensing Satellite | President , PM Applaud Scientists For Satellite Launch​

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

Facebook

www.facebook.com

Facebook

www.facebook.com

 

[ghazi52]

China congratulates Pakistan on remote sensing satellite launch​

Satellite is part of integrated Earth observation system, expected to boost Pakistan’s socio-economic development

Web Desk
July 31, 2025

China has extended warm congratulations to Pakistan on the successful launch of its new remote sensing satellite from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, reaffirming their close bilateral cooperation in science and technology.In a statement issued Thursday, the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad commended Pakistan’s achievement following a tweet from Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal, who celebrated the milestone.

"May this satellite further strengthen our iron brother’s capabilities in land resource survey and disaster prevention and alleviation," the embassy said in response.

 

[El Sidd]

Significant Step Forward | Pakistan Launches Remote Sensing Satellite on 31st July 2025​

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

Remote Sensing Satellite | President , PM Applaud Scientists For Satellite Launch​

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

Facebook

www.facebook.com

Facebook

www.facebook.com

Please post it here how these satellites will help with the environmental policy adopted by the government.

The other exclusive thread on environmental issues was closed.

Thanks.

 

[Ali_Baba]

Has Pakistan published an actual photo of the actual satellite yet ? Not seen anything anywhere.

 

[Be dazzled]

Strictly Pakistani made remote sensing satellite with no Chinese components. Finally. I know people in its R&D team.

 

[Ali_Baba]

Strictly Pakistani made remote sensing satellite with no Chinese components. Finally. I know people in its R&D team.

@Be dazzled

Any pictures of the satellite? Right now - nothing anywhere - quite odd as all countries do post pictures of the satellite itself that has been launched.

 

[Pakistan Space Agency]

Pakistan should be able to launch its own small satellites.
North Korea is able to do it. North Korean reconnaissance satellite Malligyong-1 was successfully placed into orbit in November 2023. The earlier launch of the North Korea's first satellite, Kwangmyŏngsŏng-1, in 1998 is not considered successful as the satellite had very poor capabilities.

A few of Pakistan's very early liquid fuel ballistic missiles were based on North Korean ( actually copied ex-Soviet) rocket technology,
North Korea has been using these types of (modified) missiles/rockets for its satellite launches. Pakistan should be able to launch its own military grade satellites as i5 has full access to the liquid fuel rocket motors and rocket shell technology.

You need a launched, launch centre, ground stations, etc. and it all needs to be maintained at all times, all of that costs a lot of money to operate.

Unless you're receiving a regular order of satellite launches, it's cheaper to place an order with China or Russia rather than build something you may or may not use that often.

 

[samejjangir]

SLV development in case of Pakistan is more of a geopolitical consideration than technological. Recent sanctions on Pakistani missile program and allegations like Pakistan developing ICBM may be pointing towards Pakistan's development of SLVs actually. Problem here is that these vehicles can be repurposed for ICBM with some modifications easily. Indian BM/ICBM program born out of their space program where initial aid was provided by NASA during 1960's. Pakistan also started around the same time but then we just left space domain for Indians to dominate in this region and now we are lagging behind clearly.

Pakistan was actually a step ahead in 1960s as USA had supported it with sounding rockets and other launch assistance. However, post 1970, India has advanced much more rapidly than Pakistan.

The hard reality is that these SLVs will need to be developed indigenously as no one will help beyond basics as it will be indirectly assisting in ICBM programme.

However, even other than SLVs, development of satellites itself is a complex endeavour as it still needs semiconductors and other sophisticated technology. All countries that make their own satellites also have semiconductor fabs. Otherwise, one can only buy other country's satellites or at most assemble purchased components

 

[Bilal]

Strictly Pakistani made remote sensing satellite with no Chinese components. Finally. I know people in its R&D team.

Most likely only assembled. We couldn’t even make the optics for PakTES1 and had to get the core optical system from a South African company.

 

[the vicious kind]

It’s cheaper and more practical for Pakistan to use China’s reliable rocket program instead of building our own. China already has a mature system, so we can focus on making better satellites while they handle the launches quickly and efficiently.

Pakistan currently has three operational remote sensing satellites (PRSS‑1 launched in July 2018, PakTES‑1A also launched in July 2018, and a newly launched advanced optical remote sensing satellite ( Probably PRSS‑2 on July 31  2025), one communication satellite (PakSAT‑1R), and one electro‑optical satellite (PRSC‑EO1). To ensure comprehensive coverage of South Asia and enhanced capabilities, we still require at least 2 synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites and two additional electro‑optical satellites.