Pakistan launches its first hyperspectral satellite

A “major milestone” that Pakistan claims will help achieve national goals, including urban planning, has been reached by Pakistan’s first ever hyperspectral satellite into orbit.

The H1 satellite’s “successful launch” took place on Sunday at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China, according to the nation’s space agency SUPARCO.

Special applications for monitoring crop quality, water resources, or damage caused by natural disasters can be made possible by hyperspectral satellites, which are particularly useful for detecting subtle chemical or material changes in the environment.

According to the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the technology “significantly increases national capacities” in fields like urban planning, environmental monitoring, precision farming, and disaster management.

It added that the country’s ability to identify geohazard risks will be a factor in development initiatives like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which aims to create an infrastructure link between Pakistan’s Gwadar Port and the northwestern province of Xinjiang.

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Pakistan’s First Hyperspectral Satellite is Successfully Launched https://t.co/N6dil4vaMe
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According to SUPARCO chairman Muhammad Yousuf Khan, “the data from the Hyperspectral Satellite is poised to revolutionize agricultural productivity, boost climate resilience, and enable optimized management of the country’s vital natural resources.”

“Pivotal step”

Pakistan also praised the H1 deployment as a “pivotal step forward” in its space program as well as a testament to its long-standing partnership with China in “peaceful exploration of space.”

The Foreign Ministry stated that the mission reflects the ever-increasing strategic partnership and deep-rooted friendship between the two countries, which continue to work together to advance peaceful space exploration and harness its benefits for socioeconomic development.

According to SUPARCO, the mission is a result of Pakistan’s recent efforts to expand its space program, which has already launched three satellites into orbit this year.

The other two satellites, EO-1 and KS-1, are “fully operational in orbit,” according to Pakistan’s The News International newspaper.