Pakistan’s first lunar satellite, iCube-Qamar, successfully captured and transmitted images from the moon’s orbit. The satellite was launched on May 3 as part of China’s Chang’e-6 mission and entered the moon’s orbit on May 8. The images were unveiled at a ceremony at the China National Space Agency and officially handed over to Pakistan’s ambassador to Beijing.

The satellite carries two optical cameras and was designed by Islamabad’s Institute of Space Technology in collaboration with China’s Shanghai University and Pakistan’s national space agency Suparco. It was selected by the Asia Pacific Space Cooperation Organisation to be released in lunar orbit from the Chang’e-6 mission.

CubeSats offer opportunities for universities, research institutions, and commercial entities to participate in space missions. The mission aims to collect lunar samples from the far side of the moon and pave the way for a Chinese crewed landing and a base on the lunar south pole. The satellite will play a critical role in deep space missions and will provide crucial data on crater locations, water, and traces of ice on the moon’s surface.

The opportunity to release the cubesat in lunar orbit was offered by the China National Space Agency through the Asia Pacific Space Cooperation Organisation (Apsco). The Chang’e-6 mission aims to explore the moon’s “dark side” and will collect lunar samples from the far side of the moon. China will send a robotic spacecraft in the coming days on a round trip to the moon’s far side in the first of three technically demanding missions that will pave the way for an inaugural Chinese crewed landing and a base on the lunar south pole.