ISLAMABAD/BEIJING: Pakistan’s historic lunar mission, ICUBE-Q, is scheduled to launch today aboard China’s Chang’e 6 lunar probe from Hainan, China.
The launch broadcast was shown on the IST website and IST social media platforms.
The satellite ICUBE-Q was developed by the Institute of Space Technology (IST). Alongside Chang’e-6, China will carry payloads from France, Italy, and Sweden, while Chang’e-7 will bear payloads from Russia, Switzerland, and Thailand.
According to the Associated Press of Pakistan, the organization partnered with China’s Shanghai University SJTU and Pakistan’s national space agency SUPARCO.
ICUBE-Q, Pakistan’s orbiter, is equipped with two advanced optical cameras, poised to capture stunning images of the lunar surface. It has successfully integrated with China’s Chang’E6 mission after rigorous testing, marking the sixth chapter in China’s lunar exploration program.
The mission aims to collect samples of soil and rocks from the moon’s surface, particularly from the northeastern side of the South Pole-Aitken Basin, the oldest known impact crater in the solar system. This area holds preserved materials from the early formation of the moon, offering insights into its evolution and the inner solar system.
The mission will also carry the iCube-Q CubeSat, small standardized satellites serving as platforms for testing new technologies, promoting collaboration within the space community, and enabling broader access to space.
