Pakistan’s Space Agency on Sunday launched the country’s first Hyperspectral Satellite (HS-1) from a Chinese launch centre, the Foreign Office said, terming it a “pivotal step forward in Pakistan’s space program,
Hyperspectral imaging is a type of advanced camera technology used in satellites to study the Earth and space, according to a study published in the Journal of Computational Intelligence and Neuroscience.
Unlike regular satellite cameras that capture only a few colours (like red, green, and blue), hyperspectral cameras capture hundreds of very narrow colour bands. This means they can detect tiny differences in light that the human eye, or even normal satellites, can’t see.
In a statement issued today, the foreign office said, “Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) has achieved a major milestone with the successful launch of Pakistan’s first Hyperspectral Satellite (HS-1) from the Chinese Satellite Launch Centre.”
According to FO, “HS-1 is equipped with advanced hyperspectral imaging technology capable of capturing data across hundreds of narrow spectral bands.”
This, in turn, will “enable precise monitoring and analysis of land use, vegetation health, water resources, and urban development,” FO said.
As per the statement, “the satellite is expected to significantly enhance national capacities in areas such as precision agriculture, environmental monitoring, urban planning, and disaster management.”
“Its high-resolution data will support improved resource management and strengthen Pakistan’s resilience to climate-related challenges,” it added.
The HS-1 is also expected to “contribute to development initiatives, including the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) by identifying geo-hazard risks and promoting sustainable infrastructure development.”
Terming the development a “pivotal step forward in Pakistan’s space program”, FO said that the launch “reaffirms Suparco’s commitment to leveraging space technology for national development.”
It also “highlights the long-standing collaboration between Pakistan and China in the peaceful exploration of space and its application for socioeconomic progress.”
“Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar commended the scientists/technical teams from Pakistan and China working on HS-1 for their commitment, professional excellence and exemplary cooperation,” the statement said.
On October 15, Suparco announced the upcoming launch of the HS-1 satellite from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in China.
Last month, a senior official from Suparco said the agency was integrating space-based applications into its disaster risk management framework, “paving a path anchored in science and international collaboration to better prepare for natural calamities”.
In July, the foreign ministry announced the successful launch of a remote sensing satellite from China, which aimed to “strengthen Pakistan’s agricultural monitoring and disaster management, among other capabilities”.
In August, Pakistan successfully launched a remote sensing satellite from a launch centre in China. The satellite aimed to strengthen Pakistan’s agricultural monitoring and disaster management, among other capabilities, according to a Foreign Office statement.
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