1. As the national space agency
of Pakistan, SUPARCO is currently pursuing a multifaceted space programme. The
National Space Programme-2047 envisages the launch of multiple kinds of
satellites to ensure guaranteed access to space and accrue its benefits for
socio-economic development of country. In this vein, the launch of remote
sensing satellites is an historic and unmatched feet, for it entails
space-enabled natural resource inventorying and monitoring, environmental
monitoring, disaster risk reduction and mitigation, urban planning and rural
development, besides saving a vast sum of foreign exchange.
2. On 9 July 2018, Pakistan
successfully launched two remote sensing satellites, called Pakistan Remote
Sensing Satellite-1 (PRSS-1) and Pakistan Technology Evaluation Satellite-1A
(PakTES-1A) from China. The successful launch of the said satellites has
further strengthened space cooperation between Pakistan and China. The timely
launch of these satellites was a result of untiring efforts of engineers and scientists
of SUPARCO.
3. PRSS-1 is tailored to meet
Pakistan's needs for high-resolution imagery required by commercial/strategic
users for socio-economic development of the country, especially in the fields
of land mapping, agriculture classification and assessment, urban and rural
planning, environmental monitoring, natural disaster management and water
resource management. PRSS-1 is also being used for providing remote sensing information
for CPEC monitoring.
4. Similarly, PakTES-1A is an
indigenous satellite equipped with an optical payload commensurate with
national socioeconomic and national security needs. The main objective of
PakTES-1A is to achieve strategic breakthrough towards indigenisation of design
and development of various types of satellites. The project was implemented by
SUPARCO through local know-how and capability acquired over the course of past
three decades. PakTES-1A is
covering the entire globe for earth observation and is capable of producing 2.4
metres resolution optical images of the planet. The launch and successful
in-orbit operationalisation of the satellite is a landmark technological feet
in the space journey of Pakistan.
5. The launch of the said
satellites has made the nation self-reliant in addressing a myriad of socioeconomic
and strategic security challenges. These include effects of climate change,
natural and anthropogenic disasters, crop infestation, outbreak of epidemics,
urban sprawl, water and other natural resources mismanagement, border security
and smuggling etc. The data collected from these satellites shall provide
information essential to forecast weather, assess environmental hazards, manage
natural resources, and improve our understanding of climate. It will also aid
the ongoing national afforestation campaign and identify suitable freshwater
storage sites. In addition, the experience and know-how gained by the engineers
and scientists of SUPARCO in the design and development of satellites has
greatly augmented their technical skills and expertise, ready to be harnessed
in future satellite projects.
On the occasion of Launching of
Pakistan's First Remote Sensing Satellites, a Commemorative Postage Stamp of
Rs. 20/- denomination is being issued by Pakistan Post on July 09, 2019.
