Pakistan partners with China for Chang’e-8 lunar mission
MNP – The Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) has announced a historic collaboration with China for the upcoming 2028 Chang’e-8 lunar mission.
This marks Pakistan’s inaugural venture into lunar exploration, underscoring the country’s growing ambitions in space research.
A SUPARCO spokesperson revealed that, as part of the mission, Pakistan will contribute a 35-kilogram rover designed to explore the Moon’s south pole. The rover, slated for launch in 2028, will play a key role in advancing the mission’s objectives by enhancing lunar surface analysis and contributing to revolutionary research on the Moon.
“The collaboration with China will pave the way for groundbreaking scientific research that will significantly expand our understanding of the lunar surface,” the spokesperson stated. “The rover’s primary mission will focus on detailed exploration of the Moon’s south pole, an area believed to hold valuable resources, including water ice.”
This partnership follows the successful launch of Pakistan’s iCube Qamar satellite in May 2024, which was deployed aboard China’s Chang’e-6 mission. iCube Qamar entered lunar orbit on May 8, marking another significant step in Pakistan’s space exploration efforts. The CubeSat, a miniature satellite, serves as an important tool for scientific research and technological advancement.
