In a significant step for international space cooperation, China has handed over data from the ICUBE-Q satellite to Pakistan. The CubeSat, a joint effort between Pakistan's Institute of Space Technology (IST) and China's Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU), marks the first lunar exploration collaboration between the two nations.
Launched on May 3, the Chang'e-6 lunar probe carried four international payloads, including ICUBE-Q. On May 8, the satellite successfully captured its first image after separating from the Chang'e-6 orbiter to conduct its mission of exploring the moon's surface.
At a ceremony in Beijing on Friday, Zhang Kejian, head of the China National Space Administration (CNSA), presented a data carrier to Pakistani Ambassador to China Khalil-ur-Rahman Hashmi. The images captured by ICUBE-Q have been made available to the public, showcasing the success of this collaborative endeavor.
Ge Ping, deputy director of the CNSA's Lunar Exploration and Space Engineering Center, emphasized that the project embodies principles of equality, mutual benefits, peaceful space utilization, and inclusive development. This partnership not only strengthens the friendship between China and Pakistan but also paves the way for expanding diverse collaborations in aerospace.
The ICUBE-Q mission began in 2023 following a proposal from Pakistan's IST, which was selected by CNSA and SJTU to develop a student-built payload for the Chang'e-6 mission. This joint effort involved faculty and students from IST, Pakistan's national space agency SUPARCO, and SJTU, marking a milestone in Sino-Pakistani space cooperation.
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China hands over Chang'e-6 mission CubeSat satellite data to Pakistan
cgtn.com
