Chronology of Pakistan's rocket tests

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The Chronology of Pakistan's rocket tests entails the series of sounding rocket launches conducted by the Space & Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) aimed at advancing Pakistan's space program. These launches were instrumental in developing high-altitude rockets, fostering scientific exploration, and providing invaluable data for research in physics and atmospheric sciences.

Contents

Commencing in 1962 and continuing until its partial termination in 1972, SUPARCO successfully launched over 200 sounding rockets. These missions were pivotal in studying the upper atmosphere, including investigations into temperature gradients, wind velocities, and atmospheric density. [1]

An important milestone in Pakistan's space exploration history was the successful launch of Rehbar-I, signifying the nation's pioneering role among developing countries, the Islamic world, and South Asia. Ranking third in Asia, this achievement underscored Pakistan's growing prominence in the field of space exploration.

Originally conceived as a SUPARCO initiative, the space mission program remains active to this day. Over time, various aerospace authorities and institutions, both domestically and through international collaborations, have assumed roles in advancing Pakistan's space capabilities. Since the late 1980s, the focus has shifted towards research and development, with an emphasis on ballistic missile testing alongside continued scientific exploration. [2]

Spaceflight by year

Rocket launchLaunch DateMissionInstitutional authorityLaunch SiteOutcomesDerived from
Rehbar-I June 7, 1962; 14:45 GMT Aeronomy SUPARCO Flight Test Range Level 1; Success Nike-Cajun [3]
Rehbar-IIJune 11, 1962; 14:50 GMTAeronomySUPARCOFlight Test RangeLevel 1; SuccessNike-Cajun
Rehbar-3March 18, 1964; 14:50 GMTAeronomySUPARCOFlight Test RangeLevel 1; Success Judi-Dart
Rehbar-4January 12, 1966; 12:30 GMTAeronomySUPARCOFlight Test RangeLevel 2; SuccessJudi-Dart
Rehbar-5January 26, 1966; 12:18 GMTAeronomySUPARCOFlight Test RangeLevel 2; SuccessJudi-Dart
Rehbar-6February 16, 1966; 04:30 GMTAeronomySUPARCOFlight Test RangeLevel 2; SuccessJudi-Dart
Rehbar-7January 26, 1966; 12:18 GMTAeronomySUPARCOFlight Test RangeLevel 2; SuccessJudi-Dart
Rehbar-15May 3, 1967; 14:29 GMTAeronomySUPARCOFlight Test RangeLevel 1; Success Centaure
Shahpar-1May 5, 1967; 14:29 GMTTest MissionSUPARCOFlight Test RangeLevel 1; Success Dragon
Rehbar-16May 7, 1967; 14:30 GMTAeronomySUPARCOFlight Test RangeLevel 1; SuccessCentaure
Rehbar-17March 23, 1968; 19:04 GMTAeronomySUPARCOFlight Test RangeLevel 1; SuccessCentaure
Shahpar-2March 29, 1968; 19:20 GMTTest MissionSUPARCOFlight Test RangeLevel 1; SuccessDragon
Rehbar-18April 3, 1968; 05:38 GMTAeronomySUPARCOFlight Test RangeLevel 1; SuccessCentaure
Rehbar-19February 9, 1969; 13:46 GMTAeronomySUPARCOFlight Test RangeLevel 2; FailureCentaure
Rehbar-20February 13, 1969; 13:48 GMTAeronomySUPARCOFlight Test RangeLevel 2; FailureCentaure
Rehnuma-1March 31, 1969; 14:18 GMTAeronomySUPARCOFlight Test RangeLevel 1; Partial SuccessCentaure
Rehnuma-2June 16, 1969; 14:34 GMTAeronomySUPARCOFlight Test RangeLevel 2; SuccessJudi-Dart
Rehnuma-3July 20, 1969; 14:30 GMTAeronomySUPARCOFlight Test RangeLevel 2; SuccessJudi-Dart
Rehnuma-4July 30, 1969; 14:45 GMTAeronomySUPARCOFlight Test RangeLevel 2; SuccessJudi-Dart
Rehnuma-5August 15, 1969; 14:30 GMTAeronomySUPARCOFlight Test RangeLevel 2; SuccessJudi-Dart
Rehnuma-6September 10, 1969; 14:30 GMTAeronomySUPARCOFlight Test RangeLevel 2; SuccessJudi-Dart
Rehnuma-7October 22, 1969; 13:50 GMTAeronomySUPARCOFlight Test RangeLevel 2; SuccessJudi-Dart
Rehnuma-8November 19, 1969; 13:10 GMT Aeronomy SUPARCO Flight Test Range Level 2; Success Judi-Dart
Rehnuma-9November 20, 1969; 13:50 GMTAeronomySUPARCOFlight Test RangeLevel 2; SuccessJudi-Dart
Rehnuma-10December 17, 1969; 13:10 GMTAeronomySUPARCOFlight Test RangeLevel 2; SuccessJudi-Dart
Rehnuma-11December 31, 1969; 13:50 GMTAeronomySUPARCOFlight Test RangeLevel 2; SuccessJudi-Dart
Judi-Dart 1January 14, 1970; 13:00 GMTAeronomySUPARCOFlight Test RangeLevel 2; SuccessJudi-Dart
Judi-Dart 1January 14, 1970; 15:15 GMTAeronomySUPARCOFlight Test RangeLevel 2; SuccessJudi-Dart
Judi-Dart 1January 14, 1970; 14:00 GMTAeronomySUPARCOFlight Test RangeLevel 2; SuccessJudi-Dart
Judi-Dart 1February 11, 1970; 13:30 GMTAeronomySUPARCOFlight Test RangeLevel 2; SuccessJudi-Dart
Judi-Dart 2March 11, 1970; 14:30 GMTAeronomySUPARCOFlight Test RangeLevel 2; SuccessJudi-Dart
Judi-Dart 2March 11, 1970; 14:30 GMTAeronomySUPARCOFlight Test RangeLevel 2; SuccessJudi-Dart
Rehbar 21March 27, 1970; 00:00 GMTAeronomySUPARCOFlight Test RangeLevel 2; Success Nike-Cajun
Rehbar 22March 28, 1970; 15:45 GMTAeronomySUPARCOFlight Test RangeLevel 2; SuccessNike-Cajun
Judi-Dart 2March 28, 1970; 00:00 GMTAeronomySUPARCOFlight Test RangeLevel 2; SuccessJudi-Dart
Judi-Dart 1April 15, 1970; 14:45 GMTAeronomySUPARCOFlight Test RangeLevel 2; SuccessJudi Dart
Judi-Dart 1April 15, 1970; 13:45 GMTAeronomySUPARCOFlight Test RangeLevel 2; Success Judi Dart
Judi-Dart 1June 17, 1970; 14:50 GMTAeronomySUPARCOFlight Test RangeLevel 2; SuccessJudi Dart
Judi-Dart 1July 15, 1970; 15:05 GMTAeronomySUPARCOFlight Test RangeLevel 2; SuccessJudi Dart
Judi-Dart 1October 21, 1970; 15:45 GMTAeronomySUPARCOFlight Test RangeLevel 2; SuccessJudi Dart
Judi-Dart 1November 25, 1970; 13:14 GMTAeronomySUPARCOFlight Test RangeLevel 2; SuccessJudi Dart
Judi-Dart 1December 30, 1970; 14:50 GMTAeronomySUPARCOFlight Test RangeLevel 1; SuccessJudi Dart
Rehbar-23April 7, 1972; 14:20 GMTIonosphere MissionSUPARCOFlight Test RangeLevel 1; SuccessCentaure
Rehbar-24April 8, 1972; 14:18 GMTIonosphere MissionSUPARCOFlight Test RangeLevel 1; SuccessCentaure
Shahpar-3April 28, 1972; 00:18 GMTTest MissionSUPARCOFlight Test RangeLevel 1; Success Centaure
Hatf-I October 20, 1989; 00:00 GMTTest MissionSUPARCOFlight Test RangeSuccess [4]
Abdali-I March 3, 2007Test mission SUPARCO Flight Test Range Success [5]

References

  1. Staff (2002-10-04). "Timeline: Pakistan's weapons development". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  2. "Pakistan Nuclear Chronology" (PDF). nti.org.
  3. "Suparco". 2012-10-06. Archived from the original on 2012-10-06. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  4. "Hatf 1". Missile Threat. Retrieved 2024-04-23.
  5. "Abdali (Hatf 2)". Missile Threat. Retrieved 2024-04-23.