Pakistan's ICUBE-Q Lunar Orbiter Set to Launch on China's Chang'E6 Mission in May 2024

Pakistan's historic lunar mission, ICUBE-Q, is scheduled to launch on May 3, 2024, aboard China's Chang'E6 mission from Hainan, China. The ICUBE-Q orbiter, designed and developed by the Institute of Space Technology (IST) in collaboration with Shanghai University SJTU and Pakistan's national space agency SUPARCO, will carry two optical cameras to image the lunar surface.

The launch will be part of China's sixth lunar exploration mission, Chang'e6, which aims to land on the far side of the Moon to collect samples and return them to Earth. Chang'E-6 will travel to the Moon's South Pole-Aitken (SPA) basin, where it will collect 2 kilograms of lunar material using a drill and scoop. The samples will be transferred to a reentry module, which will then return to Earth. The mission is expected to last 53 days, longer than the previous Chang'E-5 mission, which returned samples from the near side of the Moon.

The ICUBE-Q mission holds significance for Pakistan as it will be the country's first lunar satellite, contributing to scientific research, technology development, and educational initiatives in space exploration. The compact size and low cost of CubeSats like ICUBE-Q offer opportunities for universities, research institutions, and commercial entities to participate in space missions and gather valuable data for scientific advancement and innovation.

Why this matters: Pakistan's participation in the Chang'E6 mission marks a significant milestone in the country's space exploration efforts. The ICUBE-Q orbiter's successful deployment and operation will showcase Pakistan's growing capabilities in satellite technology and pave the way for future collaborations in space research and exploration.

The launch activity will be telecast live on the IST website and social media platforms. "The mission holds significance for Pakistan as it will also take a Pakistan CubeSat Satellite iCube-Q, developed by IST," stated a representative from the Institute of Space Technology. The Chang'E-6 mission is part of China's comprehensive plan for the Moon, which includes landing humans on the surface by 2030 and establishing the International Lunar Research Station, seen as a competitor to NASA's Artemis program.

Key Takeaways

• Pakistan's 1st lunar satellite ICUBE-Q to launch on May 3, 2024 with China's Chang'E6 mission.
• ICUBE-Q orbiter designed by IST, SJTU, and SUPARCO to image lunar surface during Chang'E6 mission.
• Chang'E6 aims to land on Moon's South Pole-Aitken basin, collect 2kg of lunar samples and return to Earth.
• ICUBE-Q mission marks milestone in Pakistan's space exploration, showcasing satellite technology capabilities.
• Chang'E6 is part of China's plan to land humans on Moon by 2030 and establish lunar research station.