Pakistan launches new remote sensing satellite in major boost to space program
Advanced satellite to enhance Earth observation, disaster response, and strategic monitoring as Islamabad expands orbital presence
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (MNTV) — Pakistan has successfully launched a new remote sensing satellite into orbit, marking a significant milestone in its expanding space program.
The launch was carried out from China’s Xichang Satellite Launch Centre, as part of a growing partnership between the two countries in aerospace and high-tech collaboration.
The satellite, developed in cooperation with Chinese firms including the China Electronics Technology Group Corporation and MICROSAT China, is designed to enhance Pakistan’s capabilities in Earth observation, agricultural monitoring, and environmental analysis.
It will also support geospatial intelligence for strategic initiatives such as the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), assist in national development planning, and improve natural resource management.
With the successful deployment of the new satellite, Pakistan now has five operational satellites in orbit. This is the country’s second remote sensing satellite, following the launch of PRSS-1 in 2018.
Officials say the addition will significantly expand the nation’s capacity for space-based monitoring, including applications in precision agriculture, climate surveillance, and disaster management.
The spacecraft is equipped with advanced imaging systems capable of capturing high-resolution data in all weather conditions and at all hours. It is expected to play a critical role in detecting and mitigating natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, landslides, and glacier melt — increasingly urgent challenges amid growing climate risks in the region.
The launch is part of Pakistan’s broader National Space Policy and Vision 2047, a long-term strategy aimed at enhancing scientific and technological self-reliance.
Officials described the satellite as a cornerstone of future projects, including plans to restore Pakistan’s leadership in space research and strengthen its role in regional and international satellite-based applications.
Government leaders praised the scientific community for the achievement, calling it a source of national pride.
Pakistan’s planning minister hailed the launch as a “proud moment” and emphasized its symbolic significance for the country’s longstanding alliance with China, referring to the collaboration as taking the “Iron Brotherhood beyond the skies.”
Looking ahead, Pakistani authorities have announced plans to send the country’s first astronaut into space with Chinese assistance by next year and aim to reach the Moon by 2035 under an ambitious lunar program.
The launch builds on more than a decade of progress in space technology. Since the deployment of PakSat-1R in 2011, Pakistan has launched satellites including PakTES-1A and PRSS-1 in 2018, and PakSat-MM1 in 2024, which now provides high-speed internet to underserved regions.
Earlier this year, Pakistan also launched EO-1, its first fully indigenous electro-optical satellite, and iCube Qamar, a student-built lunar satellite that captured the country’s first images of the Moon’s surface.
The latest mission reinforces Pakistan’s commitment to using space technology for sustainable development, disaster resilience, and technological advancement — while deepening its strategic partnership with China in the process.
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