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Mission type | Earth observation satellite |
---|---|
Operator | SUPARCO |
Spacecraft properties | |
Spacecraft | PRSC-EO1 |
Manufacturer | SUPARCO |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | January 17, 2025, 12:07 pm BT (04:07 UTC) |
Rocket | Chang Zheng 2D |
Launch site | Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre [1] |
Contractor | CASC |
PRSC-EO1(Pakistan Remote Sensing Satellite - Earth Observation 1) is an Electro-Optical Satellite developed by Pakistan's Space Agency (SUPARCO). [2] It was launched from China's Jiuquan Satellite Centre on January 17, 2025, [3] [4] by China Great Wall Industry Corporation (CGWIC), [5] a subsidiary of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), [6] [7] The PRSC-EO1 is Pakistan's first domestically produced observation satellite. [2] [3] [8] The satellite is Pakistan's 2nd launch in just under a week, previously, Pakistan launched PAUSAT-1 satellite, on SpaceX's Falcon 9 on January 14, 2025. [9] [10]
The launch of PRSC-EO1 is part of a broader initiative under the "Space Vision 2040", which seeks to establish Pakistan self-reliant in satellite launching and development capabilities. Under this vision, SUPARCO announced a new program of three optical remote sensing satellites called PRSC-EOS and the PRSC-EO1 is first of three satellites. [11] [12] [13] [7] Then, In 2022, the China Great Wall Industry Corporation reached an agreement with SUPARCO. providing multi-launch services for a SUPARCO satellite. [7] In addition to that, CGWIC also provided Pakistani satellite with Telemetry, Tracking, and Command support for Launch and Early Orbit Phase support. [6]
PRSC-EO1 was launched on January 17, 2025, 12:07pm (Beijing Time) by Long March-2D (LM-2D) from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the autonomous region of Inner Mongolia. [14] The satellite was launched besides two other Chinese satellites Tianlu 1 and Lantan 1. [11] The official launch ceremony was held at the SUPARCO Complex in Karachi where the launch was broadcast live. [12] [15]
PRSC-EO1 is earth observation satellite. Its primary purpose is to monitor earth and support land mapping in agriculture, disaster management, urban planning and resource planning. PRSC-EO1 will also help in infrastructure tracking, natural resource conservation, environmental monitoring, and providing real-time response to disasters. [12] [3]
The Satellite is Pakistan's first domestically produced (EO) electro-optical remote sensing satellite and is equipped with a high-resolution optical payload designed to capture multi-spectral images with a potential resolution of up to 1 meter. [8]
IKONOS was a commercial Earth observation satellite, and was the first to collect publicly available high-resolution imagery at 1- and 4-meter resolution. It collected multispectral (MS) and panchromatic (PAN) imagery. The capability to observe Earth via space-based telescope has been called "one of the most significant developments in the history of the space age", and IKONOS brought imagery rivaling that of military spy satellites to the commercial market. IKONOS imagery began being sold on 1 January 2000, and the spacecraft was retired in 2015.
The Institute of Space Technology is a public university located in Islamabad, Pakistan. It is focused on the study of astronomy, aerospace engineering, avionics engineering, Computer science , Artificial intelligence, Data science and astronautics.
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The Space & Upper Atmosphere Research Commission, commonly referred to as SUPARCO, is the national space agency of Pakistan.
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Badr was a series of satellites operated by Pakistan. The first satellite, Badr-1, was launched in July 1990. It was the first SUPARCO-engineered object to orbit the Earth. That launch took place on July 16, 1990, as part of the International Frequency Registration Bureau. The Urdu word "Badr" literally means "Full Moon," and its launch vehicle was the Chinese Long March 2E space rocket.
For other people with the same or similar name, see Abdul Majid
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Gaofen is a series of Chinese high-resolution Earth imaging satellites launched as part of the China High-resolution Earth Observation System (CHEOS) program. CHEOS is a state-sponsored, civilian Earth-observation program used for agricultural, disaster, resource, and environmental monitoring. Proposed in 2006 and approved in 2010, the CHEOS program consists of the Gaofen series of space-based satellites, near-space and airborne systems such as airships and UAVs, ground systems that conduct data receipt, processing, calibration, and taskings, and a system of applications that fuse observation data with other sources to produce usable information and knowledge.
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