Pakistan’s national space agency announced on Monday that the country will launch its first indigenously developed Electro-Optical (EO-1) satellite on January 17.
The satellite is designed to enhance the monitoring of natural disasters and improve the management of natural resources.
According to the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), the EO-1 satellite will be launched from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in China.
This milestone marks a significant achievement for the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) and reflects Pakistan’s advancing capabilities in space science and technology.
The EO-1 satellite will strengthen Pakistan’s capacity to manage natural resources, respond to natural disasters, and support sustainable development.
Its applications include monitoring agricultural productivity, forecasting crop yields, assessing irrigation requirements, and contributing to food security initiatives.
The satellite will also support urban development by tracking infrastructure expansion and managing urban sprawl.
Furthermore, it will play a crucial role in environmental monitoring and disaster management by providing real-time updates on natural events such as floods, landslides, and earthquakes.
Additionally, the EO-1 satellite will assist in resource extraction and conservation by monitoring mineral deposits, oil and gas fields, glacier recession, and water resources.
The launch of EO-1 represents a major milestone in Pakistan’s space exploration journey. Pakistan has made notable progress in space research recently.
In November 2024, SUPARCO announced plans to collaborate with China’s Chang’e 8 mission, which aims to explore the moon’s surface in 2028.
Earlier, in May 2024, Pakistan launched its first lunar satellite aboard China’s Chang’e-6 probe, a mission targeting the far side of the moon. China is the first country to undertake such a venture.
