Pakistan’s remote sensing satellite successfully launched from China, expanding the country’s space presence and strengthening disaster management, agriculture, and strategic planning.
Pakistan marked a historic moment on July 31, 2025, with the successful launch of its fifth operational satellite in space, this time a powerful remote sensing satellite. The launch took place at China’s Xichang Satellite Launch Centre, in close collaboration with Chinese space organizations including CETC and MICROSAT China.
The mission was conducted under the supervision of the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) and is being hailed as a major step forward in Pakistan’s National Space Policy Vision 2047.
This new addition to Pakistan’s satellite fleet is designed to support Earth observation, agriculture monitoring, urban planning, and natural disaster forecasting. With cutting-edge imaging systems and round-the-clock data capabilities, the satellite will help identify flood-prone zones, glacial changes, earthquake threats, and transportation networks.
A Strong Leap Toward Technological Progress
Federal Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal praised the launch, calling it “another proud moment” and described the event as a symbol of the Pakistan-China Iron Brotherhood. He commended Suparco’s engineers and scientists for their dedication, emphasizing that the success reflects the country’s growing expertise in space technology.
The minister announced further ambitions, including a Pakistani astronaut mission in 2026 and a lunar mission goal by 2035, both of which will be supported by China.
Strategic Uses of the New Satellite
Unlike previous missions, this satellite has been tailored for multi-purpose use. According to Suparco:
- It will aid in precision agriculture through advanced geospatial imaging.
- It enhances disaster response systems, particularly for floods, landslides, and earthquakes.
- It will contribute to climate monitoring, glacier mapping, and sustainable development.
- It supports monitoring of CPEC routes and regional infrastructure planning.
This is Pakistan’s second remote sensing satellite, following PRSS-1 launched in 2018. With this new satellite now in orbit, five Pakistani satellites are actively contributing to space-based national monitoring.
The system is expected to provide high-resolution data and will improve decision-making in urban development, environmental tracking, and defense planning.
A Decade of Steady Progress
Pakistan’s space program has gained steady momentum over the past decade:
- 2011: Launch of PakSat-1R, a communication satellite.
- 2018: Launch of PakTES-1A and PRSS-1, marking progress in remote sensing.
- 2024: PakSat-MM1 went live to bring internet access to remote regions.
- 2025 (January): Launch of EO-1, Pakistan’s first fully locally-built satellite.
- iCube Qamar: A student-built lunar satellite that shared stunning images of the Moon’s surface.
Space with a Purpose
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the launch a “major milestone” in national progress and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to sustainable development through innovation. With the country facing climate challenges and natural disasters more frequently, this satellite aims to be a key tool in reducing human and economic losses.
As the world moves toward space-based solutions, Pakistan’s continued investment in satellite technology is not only necessary—it’s strategic.
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