By Bill D’Zio

August 1, 2019

Credit: 2018 Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform, Govt of Pakistan.

A Pakistani National Space Agency (SUPARCO) has collaborated with China several times in it’s history. China in 2018, launch Pakistani satellites into space. The two satellites namely Pakistan Remote Sensing Satellite (PRSS) -1 and Pakistan Technology Evaluation Satellite -1A (PakTES-1A) have been developed in China and Pakistan respectively.

Things appear to be evolving further.  In late 2018, China and Pakistan agreed on a framework that would allow Pakistani to fly into space from China.   On July 25th , Science minister Fawad Chaudhry announced Pakistan’s ambitious human spaceflight program via a tweet again.

“Proud to announce that selection process for the first Pakistani to be sent to Space shall begin from Feb 2020, fifty people will be shortlisted — list will then come down to 25 and in 2022 we will send our first person to space, this will be the biggest space event of our history”

PRSS-1 & PakTES-1A

China and Pakistan inked a deal for the manufacture and launch of the PRSS 1 mission in April 2016. A little over two years later, the 1,200 kg PRSS-1 Satellite was launched by Long March 2C rocket on 9 July 2018.  The PRSS-1 satellite was planned, designed and constructed by DFH Satellite Co. Ltd., China Academy of Space Technology (CAST), a subsidiary of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. This was China’s first optical remote sensing satellite sold to Pakistan.  This particular satellite is expected to accumulate extensive data associated with Pakistani’s territorial resource investigation, disaster monitoring and management, crop yield estimation, environmental protection, and city planning. PRSS-1 should enhance the livelihood of people, encourage progress, and develop overall national economy by providing better advance warning and information in case of an event.  The expectation by the government of Pakistan is that the services rendered by these satellites would be instrumental in improving socio-economic development of the Country

The satellite has a design life of seven years. It is equipped with two panchromatic/multispectral cameras, with a resolution up to a meter and a reporting range of 60 km.

In the same launch, PakTES-1A satellite was also deployed and operate at an altitude of 610 kilometers (380 mi) from the Earth.  Unlike PRSS-1  however it was developed and designed by SUPARCO.  The PakTES-1A is a 285-kg satellite prepared with an optical sensing equipment.  Moreover, the design also incorporates Geographical Information System (GIS) and Global Positioning System (GPS). It took three years to design this satellite, and it went through multiple changes during that period.

According to a tweet by Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform, Govt of Pakistan, after the successful tests in the orbit, the satellites were reported fully operational on August 14th 2018.   The control of PRSS-1 Satellite was successfully transferred to Ground Control Stations in Pakistan.

This space agency has been operating since 1981 and has an authorization to carry out space related research. Its areas of research are constricted to space with focus on space technology, and space science. Apart from researching, this agency is also responsible for a successful application of the projects.
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China and Pakistan Space collaboration likely to grow

Credit:  2018 Ministry of Planning, Development and Reform, Govt of Pakistan.

In 2011, China also assisted Pakistan with the manufacture and launch of the PakSat 1R communications satellite. .

This was the first global commercial launch for the Long March-2C rocket in about 19 years has helped to strengthen the ties between China and Pakistan. It has also opened routes for further collaboration in the space region between the two nations.

Subsequent to its launch, Pakistan now falls under one of the countries that have its own remote sensing satellite in the orbit. SUPARCO’s engineers and scientists are now capable of connecting critical technologies that are fundamental to Pakistan’s Satellite Development Program and have demonstrated that they can successfully do R&D in house.

These two satellites will facilitate Pakistan with its agricultural cataloging and measurement, urban and rural planning and water resource management.
In addition, to planning the effective utilization of resources; the satellites will also assist Pakistan end its reliance on external commercial satellites. Prior to the launch, Pakistan has been dependent on international satellite for monitoring environmental situations, particularly when it comes to addressing the challenges of drought, floods, and water shortage.
This collaboration has high hopes and SUPRACO has achieved another milestone in the space sector.

The continued development of relations between China and Pakistan will closely be watched.  Will Pakistan, with China’s help, edge out India to send an astronaut into space?