Islamabad —
Pakistan has marked a historic breakthrough in space exploration as its first hyperspectral satellite, HS-1, successfully entered orbit after being launched from China’s Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.
The HS-1, Pakistan’s third satellite launched this year, will undergo a two-month testing phase before becoming fully operational.
Chairman of SUPARCO, Muhammad Yousaf Khan, congratulated the nation, calling the mission a major step toward technological self-reliance.
“The HS-1 satellite will revolutionize environmental monitoring,” he said. “It will help track crop health, soil and water quality, pollution levels, deforestation, and glacier melt — and assist in identifying geological risks to CPEC projects.”
According to SUPARCO, HS-1 is equipped with advanced hyperspectral imaging technology, capable of capturing data across hundreds of narrow spectral bands, providing high-precision geological and environmental insights.
In a statement, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the scientists and engineers behind the mission, saying,
“Pakistan–China collaboration in space exploration is not only exemplary but of strategic importance. This success strengthens our scientific vision and our enduring friendship with China.”
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, along with Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, also congratulated the SUPARCO team, calling the achievement “a powerful symbol of Pakistan’s scientific progress.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Adnan Aslam, GM SUPARCO, revealed that Pakistan is preparing to launch a robotic rover to the Moon by 2028, adding that “plans for sending a Pakistani astronaut to the lunar surface are also underway.”
The launch of HS-1 signifies a new chapter in Pakistan–China space cooperation and brings Pakistan closer to joining the ranks of nations with advanced independent space capabilities.
