ISLAMABAD: In an ambitious move, China is set to include a Pakistani satellite, named CubeSat, in its Cheng E6 mission to the moon, scheduled for the first half of 2024, as confirmed by the China National Space Administration (CNSA) on the social media platform Weibo.
The Cheng E6 mission aims to explore the moon’s dark side, an area rarely studied, and collect samples from its surface, marking the first instance of samples being brought back from this region. Alongside the Pakistani CubeSat, the mission will carry payloads from the European Space Agency (ESA), Italy, and France.
Among the scientific instruments to be transported are French tools designed to test radioactive gas, ESA’s Negative Ion Detector, and Italy’s Valle Brett Radar System. This mission signifies a significant step in international lunar exploration, fostering collaboration between multiple countries.
China’s acceleration of the International Lunar Research Station project underlines its commitment to advancing lunar research and exploration. The mission’s objective is to collect samples from diverse lunar regions, providing valuable insights into the moon’s age and geological composition.
Pakistani CubeSat Inclusion in Moon Mission
The inclusion of the Pakistani CubeSat in this groundbreaking mission reflects the strengthening ties between the two countries in the field of space exploration. This collaborative effort is poised to expand the horizons of lunar research and contribute to the global understanding of the moon’s mysteries.
