The Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) has announced that Pakistan’s first Hyperspectral Satellite (HS-1) will be launched from China’s Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre (JSLC) on October 19.
This mission represents a major milestone in Pakistan’s space journey, set to revolutionize applications in agriculture, urban development, environmental monitoring, and disaster management.
Revolution in Agriculture
Equipped with advanced hyperspectral imaging capabilities, HS-1 will enable precision agriculture by capturing high-resolution spectral data from Earth’s surface.
The satellite will provide detailed insights into crop health, soil moisture, and irrigation patterns — improving yield estimation by 15–20 percent and contributing significantly to Pakistan’s food security.
Urban and Environmental Planning
HS-1’s cutting-edge sensors will monitor urban expansion, infrastructure mapping, and environmental shifts, aiding sustainable city planning and resource management.
Its ability to detect spectral signatures of man-made structures will support better land-use policies and eco-friendly development.
Disaster Management and Early Warning
In disaster-prone regions — particularly along the Karakoram Highway and northern Pakistan — HS-1 will play a pivotal role in flood prediction, landslide detection, and geo-hazard assessment.
Its imagery will enhance post-disaster evaluation, transport network analysis, and water resource modeling, ensuring timely response to floods, earthquakes, and deforestation.
Part of Pakistan’s Expanding Space Fleet
The integration of HS-1 into Pakistan’s remote sensing fleet — alongside PRSS-1 (launched in July 2018), EO-1 (January 2025), and KS-1 (July 2025) — marks a strategic step in building the nation’s space-based data infrastructure.
Aligned with Pakistan’s National Space Policy and SUPARCO’s Vision 2047, the HS-1 mission reflects the country’s ambition to become a regional leader in space technology and innovation, driving sustainable growth through science and data-driven governance.
