Pakistan’s first moon rover mission is set for launch in 2028, as announced by the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) on Tuesday.
The milestone follows a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Pakistan and China, enabling Pakistan’s lunar rover to be part of China’s Chang’E 8 mission, which will focus on robotic exploration of the Moon’s south pole.
To engage the public, SUPARCO has launched a nationwide competition to name the moon rover, with the winner set to receive a Rs100,000 reward.
The rover, developed by SUPARCO, will operate at the lunar south pole, carrying advanced scientific payloads designed by Pakistani scientists, alongside collaborative equipment developed by Chinese and European researchers.
Pakistan previously launched its first lunar satellite aboard China’s Chang’e-6 probe in May 2022, which successfully landed on the Moon’s South Pole-Aitken Basin and returned samples to Earth in June.
This collaboration underscores the deepening space partnership between Pakistan and China, marking a significant step in scientific and technological progress. ?? #Pakistan #SpaceExploration #SUPARCO
