ICUBE-Q: A Step Forward for Pakistan’s Space Program?

On 03 Could, China launched its Lengthy March-5 heavy-lift launch automobile from the Wenchang Area Launch Website in Hainan, a tropical island positioned in southern China. The automobile was carrying the Chang’e-6 lunar probe, which has the mission of buying samples from the far facet of the Moon. The Chang’e-6 mission is the world’s first try to accumulate samples from the far facet of the Moon.

Nonetheless, the Chang’e-6 was additionally accompanied by payloads from quite a lot of different international locations, together with Pakistan, which despatched its ICUBE-Q (Qamar). The ICUBE-Q is a miniature satellite tv for pc collectively developed by the Institute of Area Know-how in Islamabad and the Area & Higher Ambiance Analysis Fee (SUPARCO). When it enters lunar orbit, the ICUBE-Q will perform a number of missions aimed toward gathering knowledge in regards to the moon’s magnetic subject and taking pictures of the Chang’e-6 lunar orbiter.

IST and SUPARCO developed the ICUBE-Q in 14 months. In mild of the tight mass restrictions, IST and SUPARCO needed to restrict the ICUBE-Q’s weight to round 7 kg. It would have a lifespan of three months.

Although not as groundbreaking as India’s lunar packages, the ICUBE-Q was initiated to nurture Pakistan’s expert labour pool for creating space-based purposes sooner or later. Granted, Pakistan is probably going not as critical as India, China, or different international locations when it comes to area analysis as a science endeavour, and in that sense, it’s going to all the time stay behind others. Nonetheless, the Pakistani armed forces have clearly voiced their necessities for satellites for communications, imaging, and, doubtlessly, navigation functions.

Off-the-shelf procurement will drive Pakistan’s satellite tv for pc necessities within the near-term, however sooner or later, home manufacturing should materialize for Pakistan to maintain its area capabilities. Whereas a modest step, the ICUBE-Q might contribute in the direction of Pakistan’s area improvement infrastructure.