Pakistan’s Multi Mission Communication Satellite, or PAKSAT MM1, was launched on Tuesday, according to a statement released by the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco).
The project is a component of the National Space Programme 2047, the national space agency said, adding that the launch will occur on May 30, 2024, from the XiChang Satellite Launch Centre (XSLC), China.
In a statement issued today, Suparco and the Chinese aerospace industry stated that the PAKSAT MM1 was designed as a collaborative venture with the goal of meeting the nation’s expanding needs for widespread connectivity and communication.
Additionally, it stated that the satellite, which is built on cutting-edge communication technology, will be essential to the nation’s socioeconomic development.
According to the agency, media from its locations in Islamabad and Karachi would be able to watch the inaugural ceremony live.
It should be emphasised that Pakistan has launched at least six spacecraft to date, including iCube Qamar, PAKSAT 1-R, PRSS-1, BADR-A, and BADR-B.
Read more: Pakistan to launch CubeSat to Moon on China’s lunar mission next month
The first pictures of the moon taken in lunar orbit after its ascension into space were sent earlier this month by Pakistan’s first satellite mission to the moon, iCube-Qamar.
According to IST, Qamar made history by being the first satellite from Pakistan to reach lunar orbit and finish its rotation in a full day.
Pakistan is anticipated to gain various advantages from the PAKSAT MM1 satellite:
- Improved Services for Communication:
The nation’s communication services would be enhanced with PAKSAT MM1. It will enable access to broadcasting, internet, and telecommunication services by improving connectivity for underserved and distant locations.
- Emergency Response and Disaster Management:
Through its ability to facilitate real-time communication during emergencies, relief operations, and natural disasters, the satellite will improve disaster management skills.
- Weather monitoring and agriculture:
Crop health, soil moisture, and weather patterns can all be observed with PAKSAT MM1. Farmers will be able to increase agricultural output and make more educated decisions with the help of this data.
- Defence and Security:
By giving defence and intelligence services secure avenues of communication, the satellite will improve national security.
- Trade and Economic Growth: Enhanced communication infrastructure will increase e-commerce, draw in foreign investment, and ease trade between countries.
- Scientific Investigation and Study: Scientific research, such as studies on climate change, environmental monitoring, and space exploration, can be aided by PAKSAT MM1.
The objectives of PAKSAT MM1 are to boost national security, close the digital divide, and advance Pakistan’s socioeconomic growth.
The development was deemed “a great success overall” by the scientists.