iCube Qamar, Pakistan's lunar satellite, has transmitted its inaugural image from orbit after successfully completing three lunar orbits.
The satellite, iCube Qamar, embarked on its journey aboard China’s Chang’e-6 spacecraft from Hainan, China, on May 3.
As per reports from the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), iCube Qamar achieved lunar orbit insertion on May 8.
Equipped with two cameras, the satellite is capturing images of the moon from a distance of 200 kilometers.
The Institute of Space Technology (IST) collaborated with China’s Shanghai University SJTU and Pakistan's national space agency SUPARCO in designing and developing the ICUBE-Q satellite.
Chang’e-6 marks the sixth installment in China’s lunar exploration program. The mission aims to land on the far side of the Moon, collect surface samples, and return them to Earth for research purposes.
This mission holds particular significance for Pakistan as it includes the deployment of the Pakistan CubeSat Satellite iCube-Q, developed by IST.
CubeSats are miniature satellites characterized by their small size and standardized design. Typically cubic in shape, they consist of modular components adhering to specific size constraints.
These satellites, often weighing just a few kilograms, serve diverse purposes in space exploration. They facilitate scientific research, technology development, and educational initiatives, enabling missions ranging from Earth observation to remote sensing, atmospheric research, communications, astronomy, and technology demonstrations.
