In a big moment for Pakistan, they just launched their first mission to the moon.
The small satellite, called iCube Qamar, hitched a ride with a giant Chinese rocket named Long March-5. Liftoff happened in China at the Wenchang Space launch site.
Pakistan’s leaders are excited. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated everyone who worked on the project, especially scientists and engineers. He said this is just the first step of many for Pakistan in space exploration.
Here’s how it works: iCube Qamar will take about five days to get to the moon. Then it will spend three to six months circling the moon like a tiny space friend. While it’s up there, it will take pictures of the moon’s surface that Pakistan can use for research.
Building iCube Qamar was a team effort. Pakistan’s Institute of Space Technology (IST) designed it with help from China’s Shanghai University and Pakistan’s space agency, SUPARCO. The satellite itself is tiny – it’s a CubeSat, which means it’s a standardized mini-satellite shaped like a cube. These little satellites are great for low-cost space research and education.
This mission is a big deal for both China and Pakistan. China’s Chang’e6 lunar mission is going to land on the far side of the moon, collect samples, and bring them back to Earth. iCube Qamar will be along for the ride, giving Pakistan a chance to be part of this exciting space adventure!