1.
As the national space agency of Pakistan, SUPARCO is currently pursuing a
multifaceted space programme. The National Space Programme-2047 envisages the
launch of multiple kinds of satellites to ensure guaranteed access to space and
accrue its benefits for socio-economic development of country. In this vein,
the launch of remote sensing satellites is an historic and unmatched feet, for
it entails space-enabled natural resource inventorying and monitoring,
environmental monitoring, disaster risk reduction and mitigation, urban
planning and rural development, besides saving a vast sum of foreign exchange.
2.
On 9 July 2018, Pakistan successfully launched two remote sensing satellites,
called Pakistan Remote Sensing Satellite-1 (PRSS-1) and Pakistan Technology
Evaluation Satellite-1A (PakTES-1A) from China. The successful launch of the
said satellites has further strengthened space cooperation between Pakistan and
China. The timely launch of these satellites was a result of untiring efforts
of engineers and scientists of SUPARCO.
3.
PRSS-1 is tailored to meet Pakistan's needs for high-resolution imagery
required by commercial/strategic users for socio-economic development of the
country, especially in the fields of land mapping, agriculture classification and
assessment, urban and rural planning, environmental monitoring, natural
disaster management and water resource management. PRSS-1 is also being used
for providing remote sensing information for CPEC monitoring.
4.
Similarly, PakTES-1A is an indigenous satellite equipped with an optical
payload commensurate with national socioeconomic and national security needs.
The main objective of PakTES-1A is to achieve strategic breakthrough towards indigenisation
of design and development of various types of satellites. The project was
implemented by SUPARCO through local know-how and capability acquired over the
course of past
three
decades. PakTES-1A is covering the entire globe for earth observation and is
capable of producing 2.4 metres resolution optical images of the planet. The
launch and successful in-orbit operationalisation of the satellite is a
landmark technological feet in the space journey of Pakistan.
5.
The launch of the said satellites has made the nation self-reliant in
addressing a myriad of socioeconomic and strategic security challenges. These
include effects of climate change, natural and anthropogenic disasters, crop
infestation, outbreak of epidemics, urban sprawl, water and other natural resources
mismanagement, border security and smuggling etc. The data collected from these
satellites shall provide information essential to forecast weather, assess
environmental hazards, manage natural resources, and improve our understanding
of climate. It will also aid the ongoing national afforestation campaign and
identify suitable freshwater storage sites. In addition, the experience and
know-how gained by the engineers and scientists of SUPARCO in the design and development
of satellites has greatly augmented their technical skills and expertise, ready
to be harnessed in future satellite projects.
On
the occasion of Launching of Pakistan's First Remote Sensing Satellites, a
Commemorative Postage Stamp of Rs. 20/- denomination is being issued by
Pakistan Post on July 09, 2019.
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