Pakistan to Send Rover on China’s Chang’E 8 Lunar Mission in 2028

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s space agency, SUPARCO, announced that its rover will join China’s Chang’E 8 mission to the moon in 2028, marking a major milestone in Pakistan’s space journey. This partnership will see Pakistan explore the lunar south pole as part of China’s advanced space mission.

China’s Chang’E 8 mission, set to launch in 2028, will send robotic explorers to the moon’s challenging south pole. SUPARCO shared that Pakistan’s rover, weighing about 35 kilograms, will land in this region alongside China’s equipment. The south pole of the moon, with its rugged terrain, holds potential for groundbreaking scientific discoveries.

This announcement follows Pakistan’s earlier space achievement in May, when it launched its first lunar satellite aboard China’s Chang’e-6 probe. This mission aimed to study the moon’s far side, the side that always faces away from Earth. China was the first nation to attempt such a feat.

“SUPARCO’s rover will contribute to China’s Chang’E 8 mission, part of the broader International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) project,” SUPARCO stated on Wednesday. “This collaboration is a historic moment for Pakistan’s space program, as our rover will participate in a mission to explore the lunar surface.”

The mission will focus on scientific experiments like studying lunar soil, mapping the lunar surface, and testing technologies that could support future human presence on the moon. SUPARCO emphasized that the rover, equipped with advanced scientific tools, will play a key role in gathering data from the moon’s surface.

The space agency noted that this joint mission reflects strong cooperation between Pakistan and China and a shared vision for space exploration.

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