Pakistan’s first-ever satellite mission to the moon, named ‘iCube Qamar’, is scheduled to take off from China’s Hainan Space Launch Site today. Dr. Khurram Khurshid, a member of the core committee of the Institute of Space Technology, revealed that the satellite will orbit the moon for a period of 3 to 6 months.
The satellite is expected to depart for the lunar orbit at 2:18 PM Pakistan time and will reach its destination in 5 days.
The mission will capture photographs of the Moon. In 2022, the Chinese National Space Agency offered member countries of the Asia Pacific Space Corporation Organization (APSCO), including Pakistan, Bangladesh, China, Iran, Peru, South Korea, Thailand, and Turkey, the opportunity to reach the lunar orbit for free. Pakistan’s Institute of Space Technology submitted a proposed project, which was the only one accepted out of 8 countries. After two years of hard work, the satellite ‘iCube Qamar’ was finally completed.
