Pakistan's first-ever Moon mission set for launch aboard Chinese lunar probe

The Chang'e 6 lunar probe and the Long March-5 Y8 carrier rocket combination sit atop the launch pad at the Wenchang Space Launch Site in Hainan province, China. (Image: Chinese Embassy Pakistan)

Providing a boost to its space program, Pakistan will soon witness the launch of its first-ever lunar mission.

Pakistan’s Institute of Space Technology (IST) said on April 30 that the lunar mission iCube-Q will be launched on May 3 aboard China’s Chang’e 6 lunar probe, according to a report by Dawn.

The satellite was developed by IST in partnership with China’s Shanghai University SJTU and Suparco, which is the national space agency of Pakistan. It carries two optical cameras and will capture images of the Moon’s surface.

The Chinese embassy in Pakistan also confirmed the development and said the Chang’e 6 lunar probe will carry payloads from France, European Space Agency and Pakistan on a round trip.

“Pakistan Space & Upper Atmosphere Research Commission, #SUPARCO’s logo is seen on China’s most powerful rocket #LongMarch5! Together with China’s #ChangE6 lunar probe and payloads from France and #ESA, Pakistan’s CubeSat is ready to go to the moon in just a few days!” the embassy said in a post on X.

Pakistan Space & Upper Atmosphere Research Commission, #SUPARCO’s logo is seen on China’s most powerful rocket #LongMarch5! Together with China’s #ChangE6 lunar probe and payloads from France and #ESA, Pakistan’s CubeSat is ready to go to the moon in just a few days! pic.twitter.com/tlOebD5wVf

— Chinese Emb Pakistan (@CathayPak) April 29, 2024

According to the report, Chang’e 6 is the sixth lunar exploration mission of China. The mission, which will be launched from Hainan province in China, will collect soil and rock samples from the darker side of the Moon, making it the first to attempt such an endeavor, according to media reports.