Making History: China Launches Rocket With Pakistani Satellites
Carrying two Pakistan remote sensing satellites into the orbit, China has officially launched the Long March 2C rocket at 11:56 am today from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre.
China’s PRSS-1 is 17th satellite created by the CAST* for an international buyer. It is also the country’s first optical remote sensing satellite sold to Pakistan.
*CAST: China Academy of Space Technology
PakTES-1A, a scientific experiment satellite developed by Pakistan, was also sent in the orbit via same rocket. The Pakistan Remote Sensing Double Star will basically do its part by helping Pakistan urban construction, agricultural survey, environmental disaster monitoring, efficient utilization of resources, dynamic monitoring and management, evaluation, and land resources surveys.
It is aimed and expected to aid in improving the lives of people living in the country and play a pivotal role in improving Pakistan’s economy. With that, the satellite will also provide space remote sensing information services CPEC (China-Pakistan Economic Corridor).
Satellite, with the design life of seven years, has two panchromatic or multispectral cameras. The cameras have a coverage range of 60 km and resolution up to a meter.
China launched 2 satellites for #Pakistan on a Long March-2C rocket from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest #China. PRSS-1 will be used for land & resources surveying & monitoring of natural disasters. PakTES-1A developed by Pakistan was sent into orbit via same rocket. pic.twitter.com/PbfzyWBqS7
— Govt of Pakistan (@pid_gov) July 9, 2018
According to the designers, the two cameras are the ‘best’ exported remote sensing cameras ever made by China. Due to their precision, they can even be used to monitor plant diseases and pests.
The launch of rockets also marks another well-executed space corporation between neighbor-friends, after August 2011’s communication satellite PAKSAT-1R.
“Before the launch, our model team and the Pakistani side had conducted many communication and coordination, stepped down and batched the task requirements, and provided thoughtful and watchful service, which was highly praised by the Pakistani side” – says Guo Wu, deputy commander of the March 2C rocket.
What are your thoughts on this? Share with us in the comments section below.
