BEIJING (HRNW) – In a historic milestone for Pakistan’s space programme, the first image from the country’s lunar mission, ICUBE-Q, has been received.
The breakthrough was celebrated at a special ceremony at the China National Space Administration (CNSA), where authorities presented the inaugural picture taken by ICUBE-Q to the Pakistani ambassador.
ICUBE-Q captured its maiden image of sunlight after seven days since the launch of the lunar mission. The image marks a significant achievement in Pakistan’s journey into space exploration.
According to the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), Pakistan’s first lunar satellite, ICUBE-Q, completed its first rotation around the moon in 12 hours.
Signals from ICUBE-Q will be transmitted to Earth after covering a distance of approximately 0.36 to 0.4 million kilometres.
A Suparco spokesperson revealed that ICUBE-Q had already completed three rotations around the moon, and the mission is slated to continue orbiting the moon for the next three to six months.
The satellite is operating flawlessly according to its design, with all communication systems and imaging payloads functioning optimally.
This achievement underscores Pakistan’s growing presence in space exploration and signifies a significant step forward in the country’s technological advancement.