Pakistan's CubeSat sends first images of Sun and Moon from lunar orbit

Pakistan's CubeSat, launched as part of China's Chang'e-6 mission, has achieved a major milestone by sending back its first images of the sun and moon from lunar orbit. The images were unveiled during a ceremony at the China National Space Agency (CNSA) to celebrate the successful mission, as reported by The Times of India.

CubeSat's Successful Mission
According to Maria Tariq, spokesperson of Pakistan's national space agency Suparco, the images were officially handed over to Pakistan's ambassador to China, Khalil Hashmi, during a data handover event in Beijing. The CubeSat, one of the international payloads carried by the Chang'e-6 mission, successfully separated from the orbiter near the far side of the moon and captured its first image at 16:14 (1:14 pm Pakistan time) on May 8.


The CNSA's announcement, stating that Pakistan's CubeSat project had achieved its goal of "successfully separating and obtaining telemetry," marking a complete success for the mission. The first image displayed the sun shining brightly, the second showed a sparkling half moon, and the third showed the moon on the left and the sun on the right.

Collaboration and Achievement
The CubeSat was a collaborative effort between Islamabad's Institute of Space Technology (IST), China's Shanghai University (SJTU), and Suparco. Cube satellites, known for their compact size and standardized cubic design, play a crucial role in gathering valuable data for scientific progress and innovation.


National Pride Amid Challenges
Despite facing tough economic and security challenges, Pakistan has taken pride in this significant achievement. The Times of India reported that social media was flooded with posts celebrating the milestone, reflecting the country's enthusiasm for space exploration and scientific advancement.