ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Space & Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) on Wednesday announced the launch of the country’s first Hyperspectral Satellite (HS-1) from China on October 19.
The mission is being hailed as a historic breakthrough for Pakistan’s space programme and a major milestone in advancing the objectives outlined in the National Space Policy and Vision 2047.
According to SUPARCO, the HS-1 satellite is set to play a pivotal role in key sectors including agriculture, urban development, and environmental monitoring.
Featuring advanced technology, the satellite is expected to significantly improve precision agriculture—potentially boosting crop yields by 15–20% through accurate data analysis and calibration.
In addition to agricultural applications, HS-1 will enhance Pakistan’s capacity to predict and manage natural disasters such as floods and landslides, while also providing valuable insights into climate change and geological risks.
The satellite will also support infrastructure mapping and urban planning, paving the way for scientific progress and modernisation across the country.
SUPARCO emphasised that this mission will not only strengthen national space research capabilities but also raise Pakistan’s profile in global scientific and technological innovation.
The new satellite will join Pakistan’s growing remote-sensing fleet, which includes PRSS-1 launched in 2018 and two Earth-observation satellites— EO-1 and KS-1— placed in orbit earlier this year.
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”.
