Pakistan’s first lunar mission, iCube Qamar, successfully entered orbit, confirmed Dr. Khurram Khurshid from the Institute of Space Technology (IST).
The satellite deployed into lunar orbit on May 8 at 1:14 PM PST, marking a significant achievement. It now orbits the moon, facilitating high-resolution lunar surface imaging.
iCube Qamar was launched on May 3 from Hainan, China, as part of the Chang’e-6 mission. It travelled aboard the Long March-5 rocket. Dr. Khurshid predicted the satellite would circle the moon for three to six months, capturing various lunar surface images.
IST developed iCube Qamar in Islamabad in collaboration with Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) and Pakistan’s space agency Suparco. It features two optical cameras that aim to capture detailed photos of the lunar and Earth surfaces from orbit. Before launch, rigorous testing confirmed the satellite’s readiness for its mission.
CubeSats, originally used for low-Earth orbit research, are now used in more ambitious missions, including lunar exploration. The moon’s elliptical orbit, approximately 384,400 km from Earth, poses communication and control challenges.
The opportunity to launch a CubeSat into lunar orbit came via the China National Space Agency (CNSA). This was part of an initiative by the Asia Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO), inviting member states to participate. Pakistan’s proposal was chosen from among various APSCO member submissions.
IST faculty and students led the satellite’s design and development, with support from SJTU and Suparco. iCube Qamar has advanced technology, including 3-axis altitude control, an onboard computer, thermal control, and communication modules for deep space operation.
