Pakistan set to launch new remote sensing satellite from China

The Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) is set to launch its latest Remote Sensing Satellite (PRSS) on July 31 from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in China.

According to an official statement, the satellite is equipped with advanced imaging technology and will be used for Earth observation in areas such as agriculture, environmental monitoring, urban planning, and disaster management. It is expected to assist authorities in predicting and mitigating the effects of natural disasters including floods, earthquakes, landslides, and glacier melt, as well as in monitoring deforestation.

The satellite will also contribute to infrastructure development and geospatial mapping, supporting projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

This launch follows the recent deployment of the Electro-Optical Satellite EO-1 in January 2025, which was Pakistan’s first fully indigenous observation satellite, designed and developed entirely by local engineers. EO-1 was primarily built for agricultural and environmental applications.

SUPARCO’s space programme has grown significantly over the past decade. The modern space era began with the 2011 launch of PakSat-1R, followed by PakTES-1A and PRSS-1 in 2018. In 2024, Pakistan launched PakSat-MM1 to expand internet connectivity and deployed iCube Qamar — a student-built satellite — which captured images of the lunar surface.

The new satellite is part of Pakistan’s broader space ambitions outlined in the National Space Policy and Vision 2047, aimed at promoting sustainable development through advanced space technology.