Today marks a significant milestone for Pakistan as it embarks on its inaugural lunar mission, ICUBE-Qamar. This groundbreaking satellite launch, in collaboration with China’s Chang’E6 spacecraft, is set to take place in Hainan, China. The Institute of Space Technology in Pakistan has officially announced this momentous occasion.

ICUBE-Qamar, a collaborative project between the Institute of Space Technology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) in China, and Pakistan’s SUPARCO, is set for launch aboard China’s Chang’E6 spacecraft. Catch the live broadcast of this landmark satellite launch at 12:50 PM on the Institute of Space Technology’s website.

ICUBE-Qamar is outfitted with advanced cameras designed to capture detailed images of the moon’s surface. Prior to its journey, ICUBE-Qamar underwent extensive testing to ensure flawless integration and functionality with the Chang’E6 mission.

Chang’E6 represents China’s sixth lunar exploration mission, aiming to land on the moon’s far side—a region unseen from Earth—and return with samples for scientific analysis.

Pakistan plays a crucial role in this mission with ICUBE-Qamar, a CubeSat developed by the Institute of Space Technology. CubeSats, small yet versatile satellites, are pivotal for scientific research, technological testing, and educational purposes in space.

CubeSats serve diverse purposes such as Earth observation, communication support, and stellar research due to their compact size and ease of deployment in space.