ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday launched two satellites with Chinese help, the Foreign Office announced.

The Pakistan Remote Sensing Satellite-1 (PRSS-1) and Pakistan Technology Evaluation Satellite-1A were co-launched from China’s Jiuquan Satellite Centre on top of a three-stage launch vehicle — the Chinese Long March 2C’s SMA version — at 0857 hours (PST).

Prime Minister Nasirul Mulk, in his felicitation message, reaffirmed the government’s support for advancement in space technology.

Satellites may enable Pakistan to ascertain level of precipitation, and runoff water for a given area

He said space technology was vital for socioeconomic development and national security of the country.

PRSS-1, it is said, would enable Pakistan to meet its imagery requirements in areas of land mapping, agriculture classification and assessment, urban and rural planning, environmental monitoring, natural disaster management and water resource management for socioeconomic development of the country.

PRSS-1 is a 1,200kg satellite equipped with a high-resolution optical payload. It will operate in sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 640km. PRSS-1 is China’s first optical remote-sensing satellite sold to Pakistan and the 17th satellite of its type developed by the China Academy of Space Techno­logy (CAST) for an overseas buyer, Xinhua reported.

PakTES-1A is a low-to-medium resolution, earth observation and remote-sensing satellite. The 285kg satellite with three-year design life is equipped with an optical payload and will operate at an altitude of 610km. It has been indigenously developed though its payload was developed by a South African firm.

PakTES-1B is reportedly in early stages of development.

“In sum, remote-sensing satellites will offer Pakistan the ability to predict and ascertain level of precipitation, and runoff water for a given area. Moreover, it has greater application in agriculture, monitoring and predicting groundwater supplies, flooding, drought and atmospheric changes in Pakistan,” an official said at a background briefing.

The FO said Suparco’s scientists and engineers had been able to harness critical technologies essentially requ­ired for satellite development programme.

Published in Dawn, July 10th, 2018