Pakistan successfully launched its first hyperspectral satellite H1, calling it an important milestone for developing national capabilities in areas from agriculture to urban planning.
The Pakistan Space Agency announced the launch from the Jiuquan Cosmodrome in northwestern China (SUPARCO).
Hyperspectral satellites are capable of detecting subtle chemical and material changes on the Earth's surface, which are not captured by conventional optical sensors. Due to this, they are particularly useful for monitoring the condition of agricultural crops, water resources, environmental changes and assessment of the consequences of natural disasters.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan said, that the technology will significantly expand national capabilities in the fields of precision agriculture, environmental monitoring, урбаністики та управління надзвичайними ситуаціями. in addition, система допоможе оцінювати георизики в межах інфраструктурних проєктів, зокрема Китайсько-пакистанського економічного коридору (CPEC), which connects the Chinese region of Xinjiang with the port of Gwadar.
SUPARCO Chairman Muhammad Yusuf Khan noted, that data from a new satellite can revolutionize agricultural production, посилити кліматичну стійкість і забезпечити ефективніше управління природними ресурсами країни.
The launch of H1 in Pakistan was called a turning point in the development of the national space program and a symbol of the long-term partnership with China in the field of peaceful space exploration.
The H1 mission became part of the intensification of Pakistan's space activities in 2025 year. According to SUPARCO, this year the country has already launched three satellites, including EO-1 and KS-1, that are now fully operational in orbit.
Calibration of the H1 systems will take about two months, after which the satellite will be fully operational by the end of the year.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com